Robotic Total Joint Surgery

Robotics and artificial intelligence help people do their jobs better. In Orthopedics, robotics may help improve the way Total Joint Replacement (TJR) surgeries are done. The robot is controlled by the doctor and allows the surgeon to combine his knowledge, experience, and judgement with the precision of a robot. A computed tomography (CT) scan builds a virtual model of the arthritic knee or hip. The scanned images provide data to allow the robot to precisely place cutting guides to allow for the best aligned total joint replacement.

Total Knee Replacements (TKR) alone account for 800,000 surgeries in the USA each year. (1,2) Unfortunately, up to 20% of patients are dissatisfied with their new knee (3), which means 200,000 outcomes are less than desirable. In fact, due to obesity, baby boomers, and increased ageing, the number of total knee replacements are projected to increase by 190% over the next 10 years. That would raise the number of unhappy patients after TKR to over 500,000 per year! These results should pave the way for improved accuracy and alignment that is now possible with robotic guidance.

Finally, the immediate applications for Robotics include Total Knee Replacement (TKR), Partial Knee Replacement (PKR), Total Hip Replacement (THR). Also, limb realignment (Osteotomy) procedures may be used in younger patients with bowed- or knock- knees.

Ask your surgeon about these options when considering a Total Joint Replacement, and whether they may be of benefit to you.

John S. Urse, DO, FAOAO

References:
1. AAOS.org- Projected volume of primary and revision Total Joint Replacement 2030-2060. 3-      6-2019
2. Rate of Total Joint Replacement (TJR) in USA: Future projections to 2020-2040. Jasvinder       A.Singh, et al.: J Rheumat April 2019. 170990.
3. Predicting dissatisfaction polling Total Knee Replacement: prospective study of 1217         patients. Scott, C. et al; JBJS-Br 2010 Sep; 92 (9): 1253-8.

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John Urse, DO

John Urse, DO, FAOAO is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon with specialized training in orthobiologics, i.e. using the patient’s own cells forhealing and anti-inflammatory effects. He is the senior and founding physician for Orthopedic Association of SW Ohio, with 29 years of practice in Dayton, Ohio.

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