Robotic Assisted Knee Replacement

Both computer navigation and robotic assisted knee replacements are technologies available for the surgeon to help guide precise bone cuts and positioning of implants. The surgery is still performed by the surgeon. Despite marketing claims, the clinical advantages of either technology over conventional instrumentation remain to be demonstrated. Most knee replacements can be performed reliably without the need for either computer navigation or robotic assistance. Our practice reserves the use advanced guidance technologies for more complex cases, such as those with significant bony deformities or in cases where conventional instrumentation cannot be used or are associated with increased surgical risks.

Computer Navigation

Computer navigation provides real time three-dimensional imaging of the patient’s knee and the surgical instruments during surgery. The data for the images is provided by infrared sensors fixed to the bones around the knee and to the surgical instruments. Their position is tracked by an infrared camera placed above the surgical table and connected to a computer. Computer navigation may be used for total or partial knee surgery.

Robotic Assisted Surgery

Robotic assistance is a technology that utilizes a preoperative CT scan to determine the damaged areas of the joint that need to be removed. The robotic arm helps the surgeon stay within planned boundaries during surgery to reproduce the personalized pre-operative template. Robotic assistance may be used for total or partial knee replacement.

Below are the before (left) and after (right) X-rays of a 75-year-old female who presented with advanced posttraumatic left knee osteoarthritis. Robotic-assisted total knee replacement was performed without the need for hardware removal.

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