by Liz Bonis, WKRC | Click here to see the full story.

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – A backyard volleyball game left Derek Niewhaner with knee pain that turned out to be far more serious than he expected—and after undergoing knee surgery and going home the same day, he now has advice for others facing a similar decision.

Advanced knee-sparing and muscle-sparing joint replacement surgeries are designed for faster recovery, less pain, and natural knee movement.

Niewhaner said his knee problems flared after a recent game. “More recently, I was playing some backyard volleyball, and the next day my knee really started to hurt,” he said.

He was diagnosed with bone-on-bone osteoarthritis and contacted Dr. John Fritch of OrthoCincy and St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Fritch uses the Stryker Mako robot system, which allows surgeons to customize a plan for each patient.

“The robot that I use here is a Stryker Mako robot that allows us to customize a plan just for him,” Fritch said.

Imaging is taken ahead of time for the joint area, and Fritch said that information is used to guide the procedure. “During the surgery we can then go in with a plan of exactly what size implants we need and how we need to position those implants to match his anatomy to lead to a natural-feeling knee so that he can have full function,” he said.

A month after surgery, Niewhaner said his only regret is not taking steps sooner. “I wish that I might not have maybe waited as long and didn’t know the extent of the full damage I had in there,” he said.

He is now sharing that advice with others. If this type of surgery is recommended, it does not change the out-of-pocket cost to the patient.