Robotic Knee Replacement Surgery: Advantages, Limitations, and Future Prospects

The Role of Robotics in Knee Replacement Surgery: Exploring Benefits and Limitations

The Role of Robotics in Knee Replacement Surgery

Everyone knows our knee is a rigid and very tough joint that is made up of bones, ligaments, cartilage, nerves, and muscles. It also has a fluid known as synovial fluid which is the reason behind the creation of grease inside the knee for smooth movements. Robotic knee replacement surgery is similar to the old method of knee replacement where your doctor extracts the damaged cells and tissues from the joint and replaces it with another artificial joint. It is controlled by a handheld robotic device and this is the only difference between robotic and traditional knee replacement methods.

What is robotic knee replacement surgery?

In robotic knee replacement surgery, a virtual prototype of the patient’s knee is used to develop a pre-operative strategy. The aid of a computer is a major part here, the surgeon directs a programmed robotic arm at the time of replacing damaged tissue and cells from the knee.

This treatment can be done with the support of the programmed robotic arm that supersedes the lost or damaged portion of the knee while preserving the patient's beneficial bone and the surrounding tissues of the knee. After this step, an implant is then impeded inside the real or artificial joint thus enabling the necessity to recover its activities and span of movements of the natural healthy knee.

Types Of Robotic-assisted Knee Replacements

There are mainly two types of assisted knee replacements:-
The Navio Surgical System
Mako Robotic-Assisted Knee Surgery

Individually these system assists the orthopedic surgeon to develop a standard surgical procedure for the patient. This procedure depends upon the age, sex and body conditions of the patient and will aid in optimizing every phase of the surgery.
The orthopedic surgeon will examine all choices functional to the patient. While the robotic devices are employed to get the same result as planned, they may contradict when finalizing the knee replacement of the patient.
The Navio and Mako systems can be employed in both surgeries which are partial knee replacement and total knee replacement. The orthopedician will examine all alternatives obtainable for the patient, containing whether the patient is a suitable nominee for robotic knee replacement surgery or not.

Navio System

In traditional knee replacement surgery, normal X-rays, shafts, rods, and cutting directories are seated on the bone exteriors to provide ethical alignment when planning the procedure for the patient.
At the time of robotic-assisted knee replacements, the Navio system seizes measurements and size of the knee, ankle, and hip. Then the leg of the patient is shifted through a spectrum of movements to verify how the leg and knee joints have motions and gestures.

Concurrently, these measured sizes develop a 3-D impression that's specific to the patient's knee. With that impression, the surgeon can build an explicit surgical program and choose the best artificial implant and replacement.
All this is accomplished in the operation theatre, where the technological handheld robotic cutting tool and digital 3-D prototype of the patient's knee help the surgeon to successfully do the surgery according to the plan. The Navio accompaniments the surgeon's speciality while assessing cuts, joint alignment, and navigating implant placement.

Mako Robot

The Mako system varies from Navio in two legend manners:
1.It utilizes distinct scans of the patient's knee before surgery to bring detailed measures of the knee.
2. It takes a narrowly diverse strategy to help the orthopedic doctor follow the surgical program.

Earlier than a Mako knee replacement surgery, patients obtain specialized CAT scans that develop a 3-D portrayal of their knee joint, surrounding tissues and bone structure. This thorough portrait assists the surgeon finalize every phase of the operation. Slices can be created with precision to the millimetre, selecting the suitable implants and positioning is very important.
At the onset of a Mako surgery, the surgeon will employ tracking pins to assist the robot indicate that it obtained the accurate size and information of position from the given CAT scans. Then, the Mako's cape positions itself, and the surgeon manipulates the hand-held device to conduct the knee replacement. The tool will tutor the surgeon in the whole process, improving their knowledge and mastery of this surgical procedure.

Who is a Candidate for Robotic Knee Replacement Surgery?

If the patient is chosen for traditional knee replacement, he or she may be also a suitable candidate for robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery. It is significant to speak with the surgeon to notice if this operation or additional non-surgical alternatives are there to deal with knee discomfort and is found to be best for the patient rather to go for the surgery.

Robotic knee replacements are excellent for the most complicated knee joint infection. This contains patients who carry:
• Femur Deformities after a serious wound.
• Complex degeneration of devices from last surgeries. .

What are the Advantages of Robotic Knee Replacement Surgery?

There are several advantages of robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery, some of which are:-
• Enhanced surgical strategies.
• These impressions assist the doctor in an additional accurate manner and arrangement of your artificial replacement joint to become the correct size and fit the patient to his lifelong journey.
• Relying on the robotic alternative that is suitable for the patient, specialized 3-D impressions are seized in practice for or during the operation.
• Faster recovery timings.
• Fewer complications.

Traditional vs. Robotic Surgery for Knee Replacements

Robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery is not accomplished by a robot only. Rather, it behaves as a directory, assisting the surgeon to follow the strategy as per the plan.
Like during Traditional surgery, the orthopedic surgeon is under supervision, nonetheless, they utilize the robot as an extra surgical device. The robot improves the surgeon's mastery during all phases of the operation to enable him to provide the fairest feasible consequences.

Robotic Knee Replacement Surgery Recovery Process

Robotic joint replacement employs more detailed incisions and supports to accomplish the correct positioning inside the knee which may oversee a better and quicker recovery and rehab.
After the operation, the surgeon and his team will monitor the improvement, and aid to lessen distress for the at-home recovery.
Also Read: Tips to Recover Fast from Knee Replacement Surgery

Bonus Tip!

Now after reading this detailed article, if you have decided to go for robotic knee replacement surgery then we suggest you if you are living in jaipur or near by, you can contact the leading joint replacement surgeon Dr Sachin Gupta who is director of Nav Imperial Hospital and also a well known knee replacement surgeon.

FAQs

1. Is robotic surgery better for knee replacement?
Robotic knee replacement entitles better accuracy, delivers better results than the traditional method of knee replacement, and takes much less time to recover than the traditional method.

2. What is the cost of robotic knee replacement?
The total cost of robotic knee replacement is between 2 lac to 4 lac but it also depends upon the device we choose, the surgeon's experience, and the place.

3. Is robotic knee surgery painful?
Yes, robotic knee surgery is painful it lesser than traditional knee replacement methods.