Nanoknee, is it better or merely hype?

I'm confused. What is a 'traditional' knee replacement? is robotic assisted considered 'traditional'?

They are different...go to Nano Knee's website & Google & you can obtain info on the difference

I've done that. I've read their 'propaganda' as a layperson. the nanoknee garble is not convincing, which is why I asked on this platform.

Yes, I did research too. However, I have two friends who had Nano Knee and myself android we all had amazing results. And yes, I had a traditional knee replacement almost 10 1/2 years ago and even though I had great results there was a lot more pain and recovery involved. Of course, maybe things have improved in 10 years, but I wasn’t willing to take a chance.

Nano Knee" is a marketing term for an outpatient, minimally invasive knee replacement procedure, not a robotic-assisted procedure. The Nano Knee approach uses proprietary CT-guided kinematic alignment, 3D modeling, and a minimally invasive approach to create a highly personalized implant plan for a faster recovery and more natural-feeling knee. In contrast, robotic-assisted knee replacement uses a robotic arm guided by a surgeon to precisely position implants, which is a separate technology from the "Nano Knee" concept.

Nano Knee Explained
What it is:
A brand name for an outpatient knee replacement that allows patients to go home the same day.
Key features:
Customization: Uses proprietary software and 3D modeling to create a detailed plan for your specific knee.
Precision Alignment: Employs CT-guided kinematic alignment and machine learning for a natural feel and optimal joint function.
Minimally Invasive: Employs smaller incisions and muscle-preserving techniques for less pain and faster healing.
Rapid Recovery: Patients often begin walking the same day and can resume normal activities quickly.

How does jiffy knee & nano knee compare? Either offered in Southern California, south of LA?

They are both branded versions of an approach called subvastus or SubV. It involves going under the muscle rather than cutting the muscle and tendon. One thing causes me to somewhat mistrust the two approaches: there are many aspects of a total knee replacement including the method of alignment, whether one uses a tourniquet or tranexamic acid instead, the robot used, the implant used, and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, the skill and experience of the surgeon doing that particular technique. Neither one says anything about the process other than that it is subvastus.

I have a friend scheduled to have a TKR with a Jiffy knee surgeon. Mine is not but has been doing minimally invasive subvastus TKRs for more than ten years and even has a video on the web showing him doing a subvastus TKR in 2020 at an orthopedic convention. Mine also prescribed me tranexamic acid so that he doesn't have to use a tourniquet. My brother has a conservative older surgeon who used a tourniquet and he had severe pain because of it for at least a week.

I was chatting with my surgeon (he had some time because he had torn his rotator cuff skateboarding and was recovering from rotator cuff surgery) and mentioned my friend's upcoming surgery with a Jiffy knee surgeon. My guy said that the key issue in Jiffy knees was the skill and experience of the surgeon. He asked me who my friend was using. I told him (Timothy Kavanaugh) and he said that he is a good surgeon. So the key is finding the good surgeon.

The CT guided "customization" sounds like the company is using the Mako robotic system with the Conformis implant. Look up the Mako/Conformis system on the web and you will see. That is, by the way, a fine system. My guy uses the CORI system with the Journey II implant. Another excellent robotic choice.

I am hoping that my guy can do a bicruciate retaining implant. There is a Journey II variant that does that and my guy has considerable experience doing that. I don't know if Jiffy Knee doctors, or Nano Knee doctors, can or do implant bicruciate retaining units or have sufficient experience doing it. The surgery for doing a bicruciate retaining implant is more complex so having a very skilled and very experienced surgeon is important.

The best advice I can give anyone is find some one who uses the best technique and has considerable successful experience doing it. That could include Nano knee, Jiffy Knee, or anyone doing SubV knees (there are many). You should not have a problem finding someone in southern California who meets both criteria. One trick for finding a good surgeon is to see if she also does revisions. Revision surgery is complex and if the choice does a lot of them, she is probably pretty good.

Bottom line: my surgeon says that the most important requirement is having considerable successful experience performing the exact surgery that is proposed. I completely agree. If that means using a lesser technique (should not be an issue in Southern California), use the lesser technique. Experience is king.

I had robotic assisted TKR by a very highly regarded surgeon in Los Angeles, and was walking the same day as well.
I didn't feel that the nanoknee consultation provided enough information and was not convinced to spend $7500.

I was surprised the other day to read that only about 13% of knee replacements are done with a robot. My very experienced and very successful surgeon exclusively uses robots.

I have trouble understanding why a surgeon would do such complex surgery without a robot assistant since they are available and covered by insurance.

I think the nanoknee www is propaganda and does not actually tell you what is done, keeping it all a proprietary secret. the $7500 consultation told me I wouldn't play pickleball until at least 3 months post is all. Some moments I regret not going in that direction, other moments I feel it is all a bunch of malarcky. Their videos mostly all show how happy people are 1 - 2 hours after surgery, while still have pain meds in their systems.