Why Robotic Knee Replacement

1. Who is a candidate for robotic knee replacement?

If you’re a good candidate for traditional knee replacement surgery, you’re a good candidate for robotic knee replacement.

However, your doctor isn’t going to recommend either type of surgery during your first visit.

If you aren’t able to get the relief you need from these conservative treatments, knee replacement surgery may be able to help. But because most knee replacements only last between 10 and 20 years, traditional surgery is difficult to recommend for patients under the age of 60.

New procedures like robotic knee replacement are starting to change that. More accurate implant positioning means that younger patients may be able to safely undergo total knee replacement surgery and get back to living an active lifestyle.

That being said, artificial joints don’t last forever. Joint replacement surgery is still a major decision. You’ll need to talk with your doctor to find out if you’re a good candidate.

2. The surgery is not performed by a robot.

One of the most common misconceptions about robotic knee replacement is that the surgery is done 100% robotically.

That’s simply not the case – while the procedure is assisted by a robotic arm, your orthopedic surgeon is still in control. The robotic arm’s only job is to help the surgeon perform with greater precision.

Technology assists the procedure in other ways, too. during surgery, one creates a 3D model of the patient’s knee. This allows surgeons to more accurately place the implant. During the operation, the robotic arm uses data from the 3D model to create a predefined space for the surgeon to work in, preventing them from accidentally damaging the surrounding tissue.

3. Robot-assisted techniques can potentially reduce recovery time.

Because robot-assisted techniques are still so new, many of the long-term benefits haven’t been properly studied yet. But short-term benefits, like the potential for reduced recovery time, are quickly becoming apparent.

With a traditional total knee replacement, the average patient won’t be able to resume normal activities like driving and going to work until 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. Robot-assisted technology could potentially cut this recovery time in half.

Smaller incisions combined with greater surgical precision means that less bone and tissue is disturbed, speeding up the body’s natural healing process.

4. Improved accuracy may result in a more natural feeling after surgery.

Because robotic techniques allow for greater precision, surgeons can customize knee replacements to each patient’s anatomy. this leads to a more natural feeling result. joint awareness is a common problem for patients post-surgery. Ideally, you should be able to completely forget about your joint replacement as you go about your day to day life. But for many patients, simple tasks like walking down stairs or kneeling can trigger joint awareness in the form of stiffness, numbness, or even pain.

5. Experience still matters.

6. There are potential risks.

Robotic knee replacement surgery comes with the same risks as traditional knee surgery. These include, but are not limited to:

• Nerve damage

• Deep vein thrombosis (blood clots)

• Infection

• Allergic reaction to the artificial joint

But because robot-assisted procedures require a smaller incision and can be performed with greater accuracy, doctors are hopeful that these risks can be significantly reduced.

Even with traditional surgery, serious complications are rare, occurring in only about 2 % Your doctor will carefully assess your health and discuss all of the potential risks and complications associated with surgery.