Robotic Total Knee Replacement Surgery

Robotic vs Traditional Knee Replacement Surgery

1. Precision / Accuracy

• Robotic Knee Replacement: Robotic-assisted surgery allows for the precise planning and execution of the procedure, ensuring optimal implant alignment and positioning and reducing the likelihood of human error. 
• Traditional Knee Replacement: The traditional procedure is performed with manual techniques which may involve variables in how the surgeon aligns your implant or positions the components, which could be what ultimately affects the long-term result.

2. Personalized Planning

• Robotic Knee Replacement: 3D modeling technology builds a personalized plan, allowing the surgeon to tailor the surgery to the individual's anatomy. 
• Traditional Knee Replacement: The surgeon uses standard alignment guides, and his or her judgment to decide how to resurface the ends of your bones.

3. Minimized Tissue Damage

• Robotic Knee Replacement: With the use of robotic systems, it can help minimize tissue damage. It is achieved through small incisions and the use of specialized instruments.
• Traditional Knee Replacement: Traditional knee Replacement might need a larger incision, and the possibility of tissue damage is comparatively more than robotic knee replacement 

4. Longer Lasting Implants

• Robotic Knee Replacement: The robotic knee replacement procedure is so precise in terms of how it maps the bone and cartilage removal. It therefore contributes to enhanced longevity of the implants compared to traditional surgery.
• Traditional Knee Replacement: Traditional knee replacement surgery can also result in long-lasting implants, particularly when performed with precision by an experienced surgeon and coupled with appropriate postoperative care and rehabilitation. 

5. Quicker Recovery

• Robotic Knee Replacement: With quicker recovery time and same-day discharge, robotic knee replacement provides patients with shorter hospital stays, faster rehabilitation, and a quicker return to normal daily activities.
• Traditional Knee Replacement: The traditional knee replacement requires you to be in the hospital for a longer period and have a longer rehabilitation process.

It is essential to remember that the decision to have Robotic or Traditional knee replacement surgery is based on several things including, the patient’s specific condition, the surgeon’s experience, and available technologies. To choose the best plan for treatment for their specific needs patients should have a discussion with the healthcare providers for the most suitable approach.

Types of the Procedure

There are two common types of robotic knee replacement surgery:

1. Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Procedures (RATKR): In RATKR, the robot is used to assist a surgeon in performing a total knee replacement. The surgeon uses his/her hands and guides the robotic arm to make precise cuts and adjustments to the patient’s knee throughout the entire procedure.
2. Robotic-Assisted Partial Knee Procedures (RAPKR): This technique is only used when one part of the knee joint, either the medial (inside), lateral (outside), or patellofemoral (front), is only the part that needs to be replaced. The robotic arm is used to exactly resurface and implant the damaged part of the knee inside the joint leaving the healthy bone of the knee joint untouched.

Both approaches have the potential advantages of enhanced precision, decreased pain, shorter recovery periods, and longevity of the knee implant. The choice between Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Procedures and Robotic-Assisted Partial Knee Procedures depends on the patient’s specific condition and the extent of knee joint damage