Nanoknee, is it better or merely hype?

1) subvastus or midvastus method;
Minimally invasive method. subvastus goes under the muscle and tendon; midvastus goes under the tendon but through the muscle fibers. Less pain, faster recovery.
2) Does not routinely use a tourniquet; https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4105775/).
3) can and is willing to do a BCR;
This is somewhat unique to me. A BCR retains the ACL and PCL and protects them instead of cutting and resecting them. It is more complex surgery and the research is not clear as to whether it actually improves outcomes. But my ACL was strong, I wanted one, and my surgeon is probably the leading user of a BCR.
4) corrects my alignment with a Functional alignment (or at least a kinematic/inverse kinematic alignment);
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34139884/

@imaginger
I got a Nano-Knee that's only done so far in California & Texas, soon in Ohio. After surgery, NO pain, NO pain meds...only some stiffness! (due to the 3D imaging they do to make it completely custom, moving tendons & ligaments, instead of just cutting through them). My sister had it done in 2022 in CA, where she currently lives. I decided to go there from PA, after my husband's knee replacement horrors, & several friends who experienced terrible pain & took ages to heal. Check it out if you have to get a knee replaced. Dr Thomas Ferro began it 20+ years ago at a hospital in L.A., then decided to go out on his own, perfected the procedure & teaching others. Debating if it will be my sister or myself who will get our next Nano-Knee. (Medicare covered EXCEPT for the 3D imaging...currently $8500, but a payment plan is available. I also found out that NO 3D imaging is covered by ANY insurance...even if it's for a brain tumor!) Knowing what I know now, I'm saving for my next Nanoknee!

I got a Nano-Knee that's only done so far in California & Texas, soon in Ohio. After surgery, NO pain, NO pain meds...only some stiffness! (due to the 3D imaging they do to make it completely custom, moving tendons, ligaments, etc instead of just cutting through them). My sister had it done in 2022 in CA, where she currently lives. I decided to go there from PA, after my husband's knee replacement horrors, & several friends who experienced terrible pain & took ages to heal. Check it out if you have to get a knee replaced. Dr Thomas Ferro began it 20+ years ago at a hospital in L.A., then decided to go out on his own, perfected the procedure & teaching others. Debating if it will be my sister or myself who will get our next Nano-Knee. (Medicare covered EXCEPT for the 3D imaging...currently $8500, but a payment plan is available. I also found out that NO 3D imaging is covered by ANY insurance in the USA...even if it's for a brain tumor!) Knowing what I know now, I'm saving for my next Nanoknee!

I had my left knee replaced with a traditional TKR Titanium device at UCLA in Los Angeles. The surgeon was the head of the Joint Replacement Department. He did a fabulous job. I can and have walked 54 holes of golf in a day, albeit with some pain, It is not enough to keep me from playing, sometimes again on the following day.

I thereafter had my right knee replaced with NANO Knee by the inventor, Dr. Ferro. The traditional TKR was amazing, but there is NO comparison. I forget I have a knee replacement on the right knee. I still sometimes experience pain, but the initial pain, the pain during recovery, the pain post-recovery, and the pain after sports or physical labor is so much less on the right side, that I asked if I could have the traditional TKR replaced with a NANO Knee. Sadly, because of the far greater loss of tissue required by the traditional method, you could theoretically go from NANO to traditional, but not the other way around.

I am 76 years old. I played American Tackle Football until I was 38 years old. I was a peace officer for 24 and 1/2 years, and suffered a number of in the line of duty injuries and eventually had to retire due to those injuries. Without TKR, and especially NANO Knee, I would not be able to walk without a cane. With TKR, I can still work on my ranch and walk the golf course. If I had known about NANO knee in 2013 when I had my first (traditional) TKR done, I would have chosen NANO knee without hesitation. Less pain at all stages (Pre, immediately Post, and 13 years after surgery) with more functionality and better ROM with far less PT, made NANO Knee the far better choice for me. The $8500 co-pay was insignificant considering the end result. I would pay many times that amount if it were possible to replace my traditional TKR with a NANO Knee today.

@wphillips1949 You say your are happy and doing well with the Nano knee replacement, but I don"t hear of any body talking about been able to get on your knees are you able to kneel down

@maewest
Yes, I had a traditional knee replacement over 11 yrs. ago & the pain was horrible. I swore that I would never thru that again. I had a good result & my left knee turned out great...but the pain & recovery & pt was really bad.
I had a Nano Knee with Dr. Ferro last April & 3 days later I was walking my dog over 1/2 mile with no pain, no walker & no opiates! It is not a piece of cake; however, so much better & less painful that a traditional replacement.

@wphillips1949
I agree I had a traditional knee replacement over 11 yrs ago & my Nano Knee replacement last April. There is no comparison! My traditional was very painful, longer recovery, a lot of pain & PT. I had good results, but I can still remember how much I suffered!
I had my right knee using Neo Knee, Dr. Ferro. I walked my dog 1/2 mile on day 3, no walker, no pain, no opiates...just Tylenol as needed. . It is not a piece of cake...but so much better than a traditional knee replacement! Worth the price of the Scan $8500.

@judycat do you recall if the doc used a tourniquet?

@maewest I also consulted about nanoknee . Part of me wishes I’d gone that route. The pain with robotic assisted TKR was worse the 1st 2 weeks and I had a very good pain treatment plan from surgeon . During my consultation I would perhaps have felt more reassured had surgeon told me the knock knee would have been corrected with nanoknee in plain and simple language. My friend went with nanoknee according to my research. Also I didn’t feel comfortable with $8500 price tag. Also another option might be GAE for you. I was in too much pain to wait for procedure in Gae study as was told would have to wait several months. And I know the other knee is not great .

@shark Yes, & I had a lot of bruising. But I was not sore...it just looked really bad! My traditional TKR, I did to have as much bruising, but the pain, recovery, nausea, PT is something that I never wanted to repeat . Plus, I must have lost some blood because my hemoglobin went down 5 points & I was so very ,very tired. I had to take iron supplements several months to build myself back up With the Nano Knee, I only used the walker 1 day, no cane, no opiates (just Tylenol) & was walking over 1/2 mile on day 3 (I later had to back off, because I was doing too much) my Hemoglobin only dipped 2 points, so I was not as tired.
The scan is expensive, but not to suffer as much & quicker recovery was worth it to me! I had my Nano Knee April 8, 2025. I was at 80% recovery within a couple of months. Exactly 2 months , June 8, after my Nano Knee, I went on a 22 day vacation to Croatia & the Balkans. I flew 16 hrs. & was able to climb hundreds & hundreds of steps & walk every day 5 to 6 miles. I admit that I overdid it...but because I was feeling so good & no pain! I had an amazing trip. It is not as easy as they advertise...but so much better than a traditional TKR!