Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacement Surgery

The fraying of the cartilaginous structures in the knee is called arthritis of the knee. If arthritis is mild, some non-surgical methods are considered. However, if arthritis is advanced having caused complete deterioration of the cartilages and significantly reduced comfort, a full knee replacement surgery is called for.

In robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery, the surgeon performs an incision of 10cm on the front of the knee. Using this opening, damaged surfaces of the joint are excised and replaced by prosthetics that imitate the structures in the knee. Once in position, the prosthetics function as the original joint and restore patient’s life standard.

 

With the advancements in technology, countless innovations and developments have been introduced in medicine aiming to turn surgical and post-operative processes more comfortable. The introduction of navigated robotics in surgical procedures is one of these improvements. As a costly option in orthopaedics, however, there are very few centers that offer robotic-assisted surgery for arthritis patients in Turkey and we take pride in being one of these few clinics that perform total knee replacement guided by robotic navigation with success and safety across the country. In our center, robotic-assisted knee replacement starts with a detailed planning of the procedure on computer. We, then, apply the surgery guided by these plans in precision with the help of robotic navigation. Knee arthroplasty with robotic navigation eliminates potential errors and allows the surgeon to replace only the damaged section of the joint. Robotic surgery also makes it possible to work with smaller incisions rather than extracting the whole joint. The prosthetics that replace the cartilages are designed to fully suit the shape of the bone and restore the motion of the knee. A meticulous positioning of the anatomically designed prosthetics in the ideal location delays abrasion or loosening, rendering the inserted material more durable.

Advantages of robotic-assisted knee surgery

• Smaller scars
• Less bone incisions
• Increased safety
• Less soft tissue damage
• Shorter hospital stay
• Faster recovery
• Increased prosthetic durability

 

The patient is asked to have an assisted walk on the next day following the robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery. It takes a few weeks before the patient can fully return to daily activities. Still, a well-planned physiotherapy is required for quicker recovery. Thanks to advancements in technology, the durability of prosthetics has enhanced compared to prosthetic materials in the past. The durability of prosthetic materials can vary according to patient’s weight, age, gender, and level of activity. However, it would be beneficial to follow the physician’s recommendations after the operation in order to increase longevity of the prosthetics.

A frequently asked question concerning robotic-assisted surgery is whether it is the surgeon or the robotic equipment that performs the operation. It is easy to give a conclusive answer to this question as it is the surgeon who performs the surgery, controls the robotic devices, and operates the equipment. The most important role that the robotic equipment plays is concerned with eliminating the error margin of the surgeon. So, while it is the surgeon who performs the surgery, the robotic-assisted equipment prevents any potential human errors.