Dr. Colin Mudrick
The idea of a knee replacement can be intimidating. Thankfully, recent advancements in technology and surgical techniques have helped improve patient outcomes, making recovery more efficient and helping patients get back to their lives faster.
“Of course, there is the fear of the unknown, so it is common for patients to feel anxious, especially with a joint replacement,” said Dr. Colin Mudrick, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hip and knee surgery with Bon Secours – Tuckahoe Orthopedics, and founder of the SPORTS Knee replacement. “But with the advancements in technology, tools and robotics in the last few years, knee replacement surgery isn’t what it used to be.”
Historically, surgeons would make an incision through the quadriceps muscle and tendon to gain access to the knee joint. Using the concept of mechanical alignment, the goal was to orient the knee prosthesis perpendicular to the ground. The problem with this technique, Dr. Mudrick shared, is that only 1% of people have a knee joint that is actually perpendicular to the ground.
“In reality, every person’s knee has its own ‘personality,’” he said, “and our goal is to meet that knee where it wants to be.”
Using Dr. Mudrick’s trademarked SPORTS Knee procedure, the prosthesis is placed at the angle that the individual’s anatomy allows for, creating a more natural connection. The procedure is designed to minimize trauma by not cutting through the quadriceps muscle and tendon, helping patients regain mobility faster and meet or even exceed their post-surgery goals.
“The procedure is now minimally invasive and customizable,” he said. “Most patients go home the same day and experience a much shorter recovery time with an increased range of motion. Recovery time is what people dreaded before.”
SPORT is an acronym that describes the methods he uses to perform the surgery — a marriage of technique and ideology to maximize patient outcomes.
- Subvastus: Preserves the quad muscle and tendon, allowing faster recovery and less pain compared with traditional approaches.
- Personalized: Aligns the prosthesis to each patient’s unique anatomy rather than a one-size-fits-all perpendicular alignment, creating a more natural feel.
- Outpatient: Most patients can go home the same day thanks to minimally invasive techniques.
- Robotics: Uses next-generation robotic technology for precise bone preparation and alignment.
- Tourniquetless: Avoids prolonged tourniquet use to reduce muscle and vessel damage, swelling and post-op pain.
Dr. Mudrick said the margin of error when preparing the bone for a knee replacement is significantly higher during a manual instrumentation technique than it is with robotic applications. Utilizing the VELYSTM Robotic-Assisted Solution, on the other hand, allows him to first characterize each patient’s individual knee anatomy and then carry out each bony cut with accuracy and precision.
“Because every operation is unique to that particular person, this new procedure allows us to achieve our targets consistently,” Dr. Mudrick said. “Whereas in the past, surgeons were only able to feel the knee, now we have a digital record of everything. This allows us to capture objective data and provide valuable insight, which can lead to even higher success rates for patients.”
In some cases, this SPORTS Knee procedure has resulted in patients walking independently (without a cane or walker) within five to seven days. By three months, patients are often able to walk 2-3 miles and return to the sports and activities they enjoy.
“Our patient population continues to push the boundaries of knee replacement after recovery, and my goal is to provide them with a solution that matches or exceeds their expectations,” Dr. Mudrick said. “And as an orthopedic surgeon, it’s incredible to witness firsthand the impact these improvements are having on our patients’ lives.”
For more information on Bon Secours – Tuckahoe Orthopedics, or to schedule an appointment, please visit bonsecours.com.
