Across more than 12,600 knee replacements, NanoKnee patients routinely:
Every NanoKnee procedure starts with a 3D plan built from your own CT scan, so your implant is sized, positioned and aligned to your anatomy before surgery begins.
| Figure | What It Measures |
| 65 minutes | Median time from surgery to first walk, across 876 NanoKnee patients. Half were walking sooner. |
| 96% | Share of patients walking within two hours of surgery; 88% within 90 minutes. |
| 125° | Median knee flexion measured in the recovery unit, across 720 patients (middle half: 120° to 134°). |
| Same day | Every NanoKnee knee replacement is performed as an outpatient procedure; you recover at home. |
For comparison, in a prospective study across 19 hospitals, only 5.6% of total knee replacement patients walked on the day of surgery, and 70% had walked by the end of the following day.[15] NanoKnee figures are medians and proportions from NanoKnee post-anesthesia recovery records with data for each measure (walking: 876 patients; flexion: 720 patients). Individual results vary.
 vs
|
Traditional Knee Replacement | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Operative Plan |
 |
X-ray templating, often finalized in the operating room |
| Alignment |
|
Neutral mechanical alignment, the same target for every knee |
| Surgical Approach |
|
Standard medial parapatellar approach through the quadriceps tendon |
| Anesthesia |
|
General anesthesia, still the most common choice nationally |
| Time to Walk |
|
In a 19-hospital study, 5.6% of patients walked on the day of surgery[15] |
| Where You Recover |
|
A hospital stay of one to three days is still common |
| Physical Therapy |
|
Several weeks of outpatient physical therapy |
Explore our nationwide network of board-certified, independent orthopedic surgeons who specialize in the NanoKnee procedure.
Vance Eberly, MD
Dr. Vance Eberly's passion for orthopedic surgery is evident in his dedication to providing personalized care for patients with musculoskeletal issues. With a focus on utilizing the latest advancem...
Kristopher Donald Collins, MD
A hip and knee replacement specialist and board-certified surgeon, Dr. Kristopher Collins, MD, is passionate about helping patients regain their mobility quickly and safely. He graduated from NYU L...
Thomas Ferro, MD
Dr. Thomas Ferro is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with 30+ years of experience, founder of Nanoknee™, and medical director of the Nanoknee™ in Arroyo Grande, California. ...
Christopher Tkach, MD
Dr. Christopher K. Tkach is an Adult Reconstruction Specialist at NanoKnee®, specializing in advanced knee and hip replacement designed to restore mobility efficiently while preserving a natural fe...
Thomas K. Tkach, MD
Dr. Thomas Tkach, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with over two decades of experience helping patients live with total freedom and confidence in their joints. He specializes in hip and ...
Aaron C. Eubanks, MD, FAAOS
Dr. Aaron Eubanks, MD, FAAOS, brings elite skill to every NanoKnee procedure, leveraging his fellowship training to deliver high-quality orthopedic care that gets you back to moving freely. With ov...
Eli Ahdoot, DO
As a knee and hip reconstruction specialist, Dr. Eli Ahdoot, DO, prioritizes precision through cutting-edge techniques, ensuring your new joint is strong, healthy, and anatomically aligned. He’s co...
Jonathan Saluta, MD
Board-certified and fellowship-trained, Dr. Saluta has extensive experience in treating a multitude of bone and joint issues, including fracture fixation and complex reconstruction of the hip, knee...
Obi Osuji, MD
Dr. Obi Osuji, MD, exemplifies the NanoKnee mission of helping patients reclaim their mobility and quality of life through performance-driven, precise procedures. He’s a fellowship-trained, board-c...
Daniel C. Allison, MD, FACS
NanoKnee is proud to partner with Dr. Daniel Allison, MD, FACS. A graduate of Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Allison is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in adv...
Richard Buch, MD
NanoKnee is proud to partner with Dr. Richard Buch, MD, director of the Dallas Limb Restoration Center. As a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Buch has built a career in r...
Greg Habib, DO
Dr. Greg Habib is an experienced orthopedic surgeon who specializes in advanced care for hips and knees, including Nano Knee and Nano Hip replacements. He serves patients across the greater Pittsbu...
Graeme Matthewson, MD
Meet Dr. Graeme Matthewson, a fellowship-trained sports medicine orthopedic surgeon at NanoKnee® helping patients move past shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle injuries and get back to the life they lov...
Timothy J. Henderson, MD
Getting back to the life you love shouldn't wait. Dr. Timothy J. Henderson brings advanced surgical training and a same-day approach to hip and knee replacement, so patients can move forward with c...
NanoKnee differs from a traditional knee replacement in four ways, and you can ask any surgeon about each one.
Your implant is sized, positioned and aligned on a 3D model built from your CT scan by biomedical engineers, and your surgeon approves the plan before surgery.
Your plan restores the joint line and alignment your knee had before arthritis, rather than using the same neutral target for everyone. This allows your ligaments to function normally, for a balanced, natural-feeling knee.
Randomized trials show a quadriceps-sparing approach offers early advantages, such as less pain and faster recovery.[8] NanoKnee surgeons use these approaches for appropriate candidates, including the subvastus or “Southern” approach.
A meta-analysis of 20 studies and more than 580,000 cases found no increase in complication or readmission risk with outpatient knee replacement compared with inpatient surgery.[9] You go home the same day and recover with a home program.
Well-positioned knee replacements can last decades. The largest analysis of national joint registries found that about 82% of total knee replacements and 70% of partial knee replacements are still in place 25 years after surgery.[5]
NanoKnee focuses on the factors that support implant longevity. We combine precision 3D modeling and engineering with FDA-cleared implants to develop a unique plan that positions and aligns the implant to your anatomy. Component position and balance are among the factors within the surgical team's control that affect how long a knee replacement lasts.[2]
If you have been told you need a knee replacement and you want to recover at home, stay active, and have your implant planned for your own anatomy, you are likely a candidate. NanoKnee was developed for active patients who want the highest level of function after surgery, including younger patients and older adults in good general health. Candidacy depends on your imaging, health, history and goals, which your surgeon reviews at your consultation.
Yes. Knee replacement is one of the most common and most studied operations in the United States; the American Joint Replacement Registry has recorded more than 4.4 million hip and knee replacements since 2012.[6] Serious complications are uncommon, and some risks depend on choices made before surgery.
In a national analysis of more than 380,000 joint replacements, spinal (neuraxial) anesthesia was associated with lower 30-day mortality and fewer in-hospital complications than general anesthesia.[7] NanoKnee procedures are performed under spinal anesthesia with sedation by board-certified orthopedic surgeons.
NanoKnee plans use restricted inverse kinematic alignment (iKA), a personalized approach that restores your natural tibial joint line and alignment within safe limits. Healthy knees are not all built the same; a substantial share of adults naturally stand with a knee that is not in “neutral” mechanical alignment.[10] In a matched series, patients whose knees were aligned this way reported higher satisfaction and better Oxford Knee Scores at one year than patients aligned to an adjusted mechanical target.[11] Your plan is built on your CT scan before surgery and reviewed by your surgeon.
Yes, if your arthritis is limited to part of the knee. NanoKnee surgeons perform partial (unicompartmental) and bicompartmental knee replacement, which resurface only the damaged one-third or two-thirds of the joint and preserve your ligaments and healthy bone. In a randomized trial of 528 patients with arthritis confined to the inner compartment, partial knee replacements achieved equivalent improvement with fewer complications.[12][13] The right choice depends on your anatomy and specific knee condition, which your NanoKnee surgeon will review with you.
For arthritis confined to one compartment, a Nano partial knee replacement is the least invasive option: it removes the least bone and preserves your ligaments.[12] For a total knee replacement, the planning and approach matter more than the incision length. NanoKnee’s advanced 3D modeling allows our surgeons to use a quadriceps-sparing approach for appropriate candidates, which reaches the joint without cutting the quadriceps tendon. Randomized trials show this approach reduces pain in the first days after surgery.[8]
NanoKnee surgeons use spinal (regional) anesthesia with a local anesthetic block and “twilight” sedation, so you are comfortable and unaware during surgery without a general anesthetic. Spinal anesthesia has been associated with lower 30-day mortality and fewer complications than general anesthesia in a national analysis of more than 380,000 joint replacements.[7] General anesthesia is used only when it is the safer choice for a particular patient.
No. NanoKnee procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, and most patients leave the surgery center about two hours after their procedure. In a meta-analysis of 20 studies, appropriately selected outpatients had complication and readmission rates comparable to inpatients.[9] Your surgeon will confirm that same-day discharge is appropriate for you.
A NanoKnee procedure typically takes about 90 minutes. Because implant size, position and alignment are decided in your 3D plan before surgery, fewer decisions are made under time pressure in the operating room.
Most NanoKnee patients are walking within 90 minutes of surgery and doing light activities in the first week. As a general guide:
Recovery varies from patient to patient, and your surgeon will set your pace.
Most NanoKnee patients recover with a surgeon-guided home exercise program rather than formal outpatient physical therapy. You begin walking, isometrics and stretching right away and progress to strengthening, biking and activities such as golf and hiking. The NanoKnee app lets you track your progress and communicate directly with your care team.
Most NanoKnee patients return to the activities they enjoy, including hiking, cycling, golf, tennis, running and skiing.
Most NanoKnee patients regain the motion they need for daily life and sport, and many regain motion they had lost over years of arthritis. Your 3D plan is built to balance your ligaments through the full range of motion, which supports a knee that bends and straightens fully. In our recovery-unit records, the median immediate post-operative knee flexion across 720 NanoKnee patients was 125°, with half of patients between 120° and 134°.
Incisions are generally healed within two weeks, though you will protect the area for the first two to three months. NanoKnee procedures include a cosmetic, plastic-surgical closure to minimize scarring.
The risks of all knee replacements include infection, blood clots, stiffness, instability, implant loosening over time, and the risks of anesthesia. NanoKnee's surgical processes and proprietary 3D Blueprinting® address specific risks: spinal anesthesia is associated with fewer perioperative complications than general anesthesia,[7] and pre-operative 3D planning targets the position and balance problems that are among the leading causes of early revision.[1] Your NanoKnee surgeon will review the risks that apply to you.
Most patients experience a progressive return of function and resolution of arthritis pain over the months after surgery. Some numbness near the incision and occasional clicking are common and usually not a concern. Your surgeon will follow your recovery and address anything that does not progress as expected.
Knee replacement is covered by Medicare and most commercial health plans when medically necessary, and NanoKnee's surgery is billed as a knee replacement. The pre-operative 3D planning and engineering is not covered by insurance; depending on your plan, you may be responsible for up to $8,500 for it. Our patient navigators will confirm your coverage and any out-of-pocket cost before you commit to surgery, and financing is offered for non-covered portions.
Yes. Knee replacement is performed routinely in older adults with advanced arthritis and can substantially improve mobility and quality of life. Candidacy depends on general health rather than age alone, and every NanoKnee patient is evaluated before surgery. Spinal anesthesia, which NanoKnee uses as standard, is associated with fewer perioperative complications than general anesthesia.[7]
No robot is used in the operating room, and your surgeon performs the procedure. AI is used only before surgery, to help our biomedical engineers build a 3D model from your CT scan; your surgeon reviews and approves the final plan. NanoKnee's precision comes from that pre-operative plan, not from technology in the operating room.
