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Robert J. Berkowitz, MD
John K. Krebs, MD
Robert M. Zanotti, MD
Daniel J. Zanotti, MD
Stay informed
Because no two knees are alike...
Zimmer PSI knee replacement is
customized to fit you
- Improved implant fit and knee alignment
- Bone-sparing surgery
- Less surgical risk, faster recovery
Everyone's knees are different due to factors such as age, gender, ethnicity and lifestyle—and this can greatly affect the success of knee replacement surgery. Even slight variations in the way a knee implant fits can lead to pain, stiffness, instability and potentially shorter implant life.
Zimmer's Patient-Specific Instrumention, or PSI, uses computer technology to perfectly align the knee replacement for a better fit and smoother recovery.
What is Zimmer PSI knee replacement?
“Zimmer PSI knee replacement is the next generation of computerized technology to help customize total knee replacement for patients,” says Daniel Zanotti, MD, who performed the first PSI knee replacement in Ohio in January 2010.
How does PSI knee replacement work?
- Before surgery, you will have an MRI to take very precise, three-dimensional (3-D) measurements of your knee.
- Using this 3-D image and specialized computer software, your surgeon will create a detailed plan for your surgery, including customized instrumentation that shows exactly how your new knee should be positioned.
‘PSI uses computer technology to perfectly align all the cuts we make in the bone—and thus perfectly align the knee replacement.’
—Daniel Zanotti, MD
Few surgeons offer this state-of-the-art procedure
The board-certified orthopedic surgeons at the Center for Orthopedics are among a limited number of advanced-trained orthopedic surgeons in the U.S. certified to perform Zimmer PSI knee replacement.
Dr. Daniel Zanotti answers questions about
Zimmer PSI knee replacement
Is PSI a new type of artificial knee?
“No. The knee replacement itself is the same knee replacement we've used for many years. It has an excellent track record and is one of the most proven knee replacements on the market—and one we're very happy with.”
How does Zimmer PSI knee replacement compare with other computer-aided methods?
“Like other new methods, PSI, or patient-specific instrumention, involves using MRIs to computer-generate cutting blocks that orthopedic surgeons use to cut the bone, which is the first step of a total knee replacement.
“PSI allows us to put in our most common knee replacement in a new, minimally invasive way. Unlike earlier technologies, PSI doesn't require us to switch the type of knee replacement we use to adapt to the new technology.”
‘With PSI, there's less cutting of bone. We don't have to drill holes in the shinbone or thighbone, which is a standard part of most knee replacements.’
—Daniel Zanotti, MD
What is the advantage of PSI over conventional knee replacement?
“The real advantage of PSI knee replacement is that we can create a customized jig or cutting block for each patient's knee. In a traditional knee replacement, although there are alignment guides we use to get the knee in the proper alignment, there's still a ‘fiddle factor.’
“PSI uses computer technology to perfectly align all the cuts we make in the bone—and thus perfectly align the knee replacement. We don't have to rely on an ‘eyeball factor’ to try to get it right.”
Is PSI less invasive than traditional knee replacement surgery?
“Yes. With PSI, there's less cutting of bone. We don't have to drill holes in the shinbone or the thighbone, which is a standard part of knee replacements. It's another step toward minimally invasive technology that should allow quicker recovery for patients.”
Does insurance cover Zimmer PSI knee replacement?
“Like other knee replacement procedures, Zimmer PSI knee replacement is typically covered by health insurance. The Center for Orthopedics accepts a wide range of insurance plans. Please call our office at 440.329.2800 if you have questions about your insurance coverage. We'll be happy to help you.”
Is Zimmer PSI knee replacement right for you?
This information is simply an introduction to Zimmer PSI knee replacement. To find out if this is an appropriate choice for you, we invite you to schedule a consultation
Call 440.329.2800 for an appointment today
Patient Success Story
‘I think this is awesome! When I walk, there's absolutely no pain at all’
“Before my knee replacement surgery, my knee was so painful I couldn't walk,” says Virginia Ehlert, 67, of Elyria, Ohio. “When I went to Disney World, I had to rent a wheelchair.”
Just one month after PSI knee replacement, Virginia is living an active life.
“Last November, I said, ‘This is it,’ and decided to get something done,” Virginia recalls. “My neighbor had her knee done by Dr. Daniel Zanotti and she highly recommended him.”
Dr. Zanotti asked Virginia if she would like to try the new Zimmer PSI knee replacement. “I said, ‘Sure,’ she recalls. “Dr. Zanotti explained all the things that would go with it—the MRI—taking pictures of my hip, my ankle and my knee. I went through all the preparations and had surgery on Jan. 19.”
The day after surgery, Virginia's physical therapist helped her raise her leg, then stand on it. “Then the therapist said, ‘Now you're going to walk,’” Virginia recalls.
“I asked her, ‘Do I put my full weight on it?’ and she said, ‘Yes,’” says Virginia. “I did—and I had no pain at all! I was in the hospital for four days; then the physical therapist came to the house. I did a lot of physical therapy—bending and flexing the knee.
“Less than three weeks after surgery, I was moving around without a walker,” Virginia explains. “Occasionally I would hold on to something.
“I think this is awesome!” says Virginia. “When I walk, there's absolutely no pain at all. I'm very impressed. Home health care was here—they said they'd never seen a recovery like it. The therapist asked me to bend my knee and she said, ‘I can't believe you're bending it that much, that quickly.’
“I told her, ‘It's not me—it's the knee,’” Virginia recalls.
“I've hit my rehab goal already,” said Virginia. Less than a month after her surgery, she could completely straighten her leg. “The physical therapist shook my hand and told me, ‘That's amazing for the length of time you've been working at it.’
“The therapists couldn't believe I'd had a full knee replacement,” Virginia laughs. “They kept saying, ‘You must have had some kind of arthroscopic surgery.’ When I told them I'd hadn't, they said, ‘Wow!’
“I was driving two weeks after surgery. I've been walking around doing everything—up and down the stairs, doing laundry—no problem,” says Virginia.
“Before surgery, I had to plan every step I took because it hurt so bad,” she recalls. “Now I have such confidence in that leg and it's so strong.
“This summer, my granddaughter wants to go back to Disney World. And now I won't need a wheelchair!”
Each patient's recovery is unique and depends on many factors. Virginia's case is presented here as an example.
| Westlake Office 2211 Crocker Rd. Westlake, OH 44145 |