Robotic Assisted Joint Replacement

What is Robotic Assisted Hip Surgery?

Robotic assisted hip surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves the use of a specialized robotic system to remove the damaged parts of a hip joint and replace them with an artificial prosthesis or implant.

Indications for Robotic Assisted Hip Surgery

Robotic hip replacement may be performed for:

• Moderate-to-severe arthritis
• Certain types of hip fractures
• Hip osteonecrosis (bone death due to inadequate blood supply)
• Loss of mobility
• Debilitating hip pain

Contraindications of Robotic Assisted Hip Surgery

You may be ineligible for the procedure if you have:

• Osteoporosis, which increases the brittleness of the bones
• Hip joint infection

Preparation for Robotic Assisted Hip Surgery

• Before surgery, your doctor will perform a complete physical examination to make sure you don’t have any conditions that could negatively affect the surgical outcome.
• While there are no specific weight restrictions, obese patients have a higher risk of implant failure as well as medical complications and are encouraged to lose weight in preparation for the procedure.
• Routine tests, such as blood tests and X-rays, are usually performed a week before the surgery.
• Discuss any allergies that you might have and medications you are taking with your doctor to see which ones you should stop taking before surgery.
• Prior to the surgery, a CT scan of the hip joint will be taken to create a 3D model of the hip which will be fed into the robotic system to create a detailed preoperative surgical plan.

Robotic Assisted Hip Surgery Procedure

• The robotic system consists of mechanical arms and camera arms attached to the surgical instruments. The surgeon remains close to the operating table at the computer console controlling the arms of the robotic system while viewing 3-D images of the surgical site through the console.
• Surgery is performed under general or local anesthesia
• Use of robotic technology enables the surgery to be performed through small incisions.
• Based on the pre-operative surgical plan, the robotic system guides the surgeon while making cuts in the bone and preparing the surgical site for the implant.
• The robotic system ensures a stable environment as well as precise positioning and alignment of implant components to avoid damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
• The implant is tested for a range of motion and the soft tissues and skin are closed over the new hip with sutures.

Postoperative Care after Robotic Assisted Hip Surgery

The general postoperative care instructions are as follows:

• Take pain relieving and other medications as advised. Pain relieving medication should be taken with food. After the first 48 hours of surgery, take the pain medication only when needed.
• Use ice packs to control swelling. However, make sure that the ice bag does not leak into the dressing. Ice packs can be used liberally for the first 48 hours and even later if required.
• Keep the dressing clean and dry to promote wound healing.
• Try to begin physical therapy a day or two after the surgery. Exercises in the first week are usually aimed at regaining joint motion. Strengthening exercises are initiated later. Regular exercises are critical for a successful outcome.

Risks associated with Robotic Assisted Hip Surgery

As with any surgical procedure, the risks and complications include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Delayed healing
• Failure to heal
• Formation of blood clots

Benefits of Robotic Assisted Hip Surgery

The benefits of robotic assisted hip surgery include:

• Small surgical incisions and postsurgical scar
• The robotic arm prevents cutting instruments from moving out of the safe zone
• Increased accuracy of bone cuts
• Precise placement of the implant
• Less bleeding
• Fast healing after surgery
• No damage caused to tissue surrounding the joint
• Restores normal function

What is Arthritis?

The knee is made up of the femur (thighbone), the tibia (shinbone) and patella (kneecap). The two menisci, the soft cartilage between the femur and tibia, serve as a cushion and helps absorb shock during motion. Arthritis (inflammation of the joints), injury or other diseases of the joint can damage this protective layer of cartilage, causing extreme pain and difficulty in performing daily activities. Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis.

What is Total Knee Replacement?

Total knee replacement, also called total knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure in which the worn out or damaged surfaces of the knee joint are removed and replaced with artificial implants.

What is Robotic Assisted Knee Replacement?

Robotic assisted knee replacement surgery is an alternative to the conventional knee replacement procedure. It is performed using robotic arm technology that allows your surgeon to precisely perform the surgery through a smaller incision as compared to traditional surgery.

Indications of Robotic Assisted Knee Replacement

Robotic assisted knee replacement is indicated if you are suffering from degenerative knee diseases such as osteoarthritis. Your doctor may recommend surgery if non-surgical treatment options have failed to relieve your symptoms.

Robotic Assisted Knee Replacement Procedure

The goal of total knee replacement surgery is to relieve pain and restore the alignment and function of your knee. Robotic assisted knee replacement utilizes X-rays and CT scans to determine the damaged areas of the joint that need to be removed for the precise placement of the knee implant. Then, the damaged portions of the femur bone are cut at appropriate angles using specialized jigs. The femoral component is attached to the end of the femur with or without bone cement.

Your surgeon then cuts or shaves the damaged area of the tibia (shinbone) and the cartilage. This removes the deformed part of the bone and any bony growths, as well as creates a smooth surface on which the implants can be attached. Next, the tibial component is secured to the end of the bone with bone cement or screws.

Your surgeon will place a plastic piece between the implants to provide a smooth gliding surface for movement. This plastic insert will support the body’s weight and allow the femur to move over the tibia, like the original meniscus cartilage.

The femur and tibia with the new components are then put together to form the new knee joint.

To make sure the patella (kneecap) glides smoothly over the new artificial knee, its rear surface is also prepared to receive a plastic component. All these steps are performed with the help of the robotic arms.

With all the new components in place, the knee joint is tested through its range of motion. The entire joint is then irrigated and cleaned with a sterile solution. The incision is carefully closed; drains are inserted and a sterile dressing is placed over the incision.

Benefits of Robotic Assisted Knee Replacement

The benefits of the robotic assisted knee replacement include:

• Smaller incisions
• Rapid recovery
• Precise placement of the implant
• Reduced injury to adjacent tissues
• Increased longevity of the implant