Evolution of Robotics in Arthroplasty

Robotic-assisted orthopedic surgery has been available clinically in some form for over two decades, claiming to improve total joint arthroplasty by enhancing the surgeon’s ability to reproduce alignment and therefore presumably to better restore kinematics. Various current systems include a robotic arm, robotic-guided cutting jigs, and robotic milling systems with a diversity of different navigation strategies using active, semi-active, or passive control systems. A review of previous designs and clinical studies demonstrate that these robotic systems decrease variability and increase precision, primarily focusing on component positioning and alignment. Some early clinical results indicate decreased revision rates and improved patient satisfaction with robotic-assisted arthroplasty. The future design objectives include precise planning and even further improved consistent intraoperative execution. Robotics has proven to be beneficial, reliable, and cost-effective in numerous other industries and is likely to continue to expand in the field of orthopedic surgery.