Is Robotic-Assisted Joint Replacement Right For You?

Robotic technology has been adopted into many aspects of our lives. It is commonplace in manufacturing, computing and in the military. The benefits of robotic technology are becoming more widely recognised and used in medicine with positive results.

The ideal joint replacement is one that feels normal and lasts the lifetime of the patient. Robotic-assisted surgery may help go some way to achieving this goal. There is an expanding pool of evidence that suggests that robotic-assisted joint surgery can improve the accuracy and precision of the placement of joint replacements. These improvements are likely to lead to potential benefits such as a longer-lasting joint with the added bonus of feeling more normal.

Robotic technology is not limited to any particular patient type and can be used for hip replacements, total and partial knee replacements. This technology has allowed us as orthopaedic surgeons to be able to pre-operatively plan the patients’ joint replacement to a higher level than previously and to develop that plan specifically for each patients’ anatomy.

In the weeks prior to surgery, a CT scan is taken of the relevant joint. From this scan, an accurate 3D model is generated. With the robotic technology, the surgery can be accurately planned down to the size and placement of the replacement specific for that patient. On the day of surgery, the surgeon uses the robotic arm to prepare the joint surfaces and to place the replacement accurately with robotic precision. 

Having better consideration for individual patients’ anatomy through robotic technology, there is the potential for a faster recovery and a more natural feeling joint replacement.