A New Frontier In Joint Surgery
Chronic joint pain due to conditions like osteoarthritis can place a damper on life. However, if non-surgical treatment fails, partial or total joint replacement surgery can help. Every year, surgeons perform hundreds of thousands of hip and knee procedures. For these and other joints, some hospitals and surgical centers are turning to robotic-arm assisted surgery. This new frontier in joint surgery has some fantastic benefits for surgeons and patients.
Ready for robotic-arm assisted surgery?
A partial or total joint replacement involves replacing damaged bone and cartilage with metal, plastic, or ceramic prosthetics. Surgeons usually use open surgery or minimally invasive means. Robotic arm surgery combines a robotic arm, CT imaging, and minimally invasive techniques to perform surgeries. The machine allows the surgeon to pre-plan the procedure customized to each patient’s anatomy.
Ready for surgery?
Robotic-arm assisted surgery is popular for knee and hip replacements. The medical team will first take a CT scan of the patient’s joint. The scan and machine allow the surgeon to recreate the replacement at the exact location necessary. When the patient is under general anesthesia, the image is superimposed on the patient’s joint. The robotic arm assists the surgeon in removing the damaged material and install the new joint. If adjustments are necessary, the surgeon can direct the robotic arm accordingly.
Fewer errors and complications
Why would surgeons choose robotic-assisted arm surgery? Since the surgery is pre-planned, the chances for errors reduce significantly. The robotic arm positions the prosthetic with fantastic accuracy, meaning even inexperienced surgeons can benefit. Improved accuracy means fewer complications, such as a malfunction of the prosthesis.
Patients have less blood loss
Bleeding and blood clots are common complications with joint replacements. Robotic-arm assisted surgery uses minimally invasive incisions to perform the procedure. Smaller incisions mean less blood loss. As a result, the chances of issues like deep vein thrombosis are reduced. These smaller incisions also mean smaller scars and less post-operative pain.
Higher satisfaction and success rates
On average, patients who receive robotic surgery have faster recovery times. Most can walk the same day or the next day after surgery. After 1-4 weeks, many can resume basic functions with full functionality after 1-3 months. The speed of recovery happens because of the accuracy and success rates of robotic-arm assisted surgery. These factors give robotic surgery a 94% satisfaction rate compared to 82% with traditional instruments.
Enjoy the benefits of robots
This new frontier in surgery is here to stay. Combining robotics and medicine, patients can now enjoy safer, faster, more successful surgeries. The procedure does not replace orthopedic surgeons but is one of the most powerful tools available now. If partial or total joint replacement is on the cards, discuss the possibility of robotic-arm assisted surgery.
