What you should know about robotic-assisted knee surgery

Robotic-assisted knee surgery represents an innovative development in the field of orthopaedic surgery, leading to improved accuracy, reduced tissue trauma, and faster recovery times for patients.

Here, Mr Tofunmi Oni, renowned consultant orthopaedic surgeon, offers his expert insight into robotic-assisted knee surgery and its benefits.

What is robotic-assisted knee surgery, and how does it benefit patients?

Robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery is a way of enhancing a conventional knee replacement surgery with the use of computer assistance and a robot. It’s worth stressing that the robot doesn’t actually perform the operation. As the name indicates, it’s robotic-assisted and therefore, the surgeon is still the one who performs the surgery.

However, there are markers and trackers that are used to specifically map each patient's individual knee. These markers and trackers then feed that information to the computer and then to the robot. This not allows for greater accuracy performing the replacement as well as introducing the implants, but also in-real-time balancing of the knee to make sure that patients have a much higher function and longevity at the end of the operation.

How does robotic-assisted knee surgery contribute to shorter hospital stays?

There are different ways in which robotic-assisted knee surgery contributes towards shorter hospital stays.

These include:

1. Making more accurate cuts means that there are less chances of causing more inflammation around the knee. This leads to less postoperative pain, less need for analgesia and therefore, shorter hospital stays.
2. The greater balance that patients achieve means that they can mobilise faster and go through a quicker rehabilitation process. This leads to shorter hospital days and a quicker recovery in the medium and long term.

Are there any specific conditions where robotic-assisted knee surgery is particularly effective, and why?

Robotic-assisted knee surgery is effective across all types of knees.

However, I believe that robotic-assisted knee surgery is particularly effective when patients have a severe deformity caused by arthritis, be that things like bone loss or patients who have had previous surgery. In these cases, the specific mapping of the knee by the computer and robotic system allows for greater planning and, undoubtedly, superior results.

To request an appointment with Mr Tofunmi Oni, head on over to his Top Doctors profile today.