b'Robot-Assisted Joint ReplacementWhat Patients Need to KnowThis guest article was written by Dr. Eric Grossman, orthopedic surgeon at Rothman Institute NY.What you need to knowJoint replacements are becoming one of the most common orthopedic procedures in the world. These technological advancements allow us to outlive the wear and tear in our joints and be mobile, active and maintain a higher quality of life as we age.There have been numerous advancements in the eld and one of the latest is Robot-Assisted Joint Replacement (RAJR). If youre having a joint replacement procedureDuring surgery: Your surgeon then references key anatomy today at one of the leading hospitals, theres a good chanceto merge the preoperative CT scan with your knee, and youre a candidate for RAJR and your doctor has recom- creates the surgical plan. The major goals of the surgery is mended it for you. This brief article aims to provide youto align the knee such that the implants are evenly some information on what the procedure is, why itsstressed, the appropriate amount of bone is resected, and different and what to expect. the ligaments are symmetrically tensioned all in an effort Robots are increasingly being used in surgery. When itto re-create a life like feel to the knee. All of these plans comes to joint replacement procedures, robots can help toare made prior to any actual bone is removed with the improve accuracy and outcomes. But they dont operateassistance of the robotic software and surgeon data inputs. alone, they simply help surgeons to do a better job. Using aOnce the plan is accepted, it is put into action utilizing the robot, the surgeon can use his/her knowledge andsurgeon controlled robotic arm. The robotic arm will not judgment, while allowing the robot to deliver greaterallow the surgeon to go out of the specic position and this accuracy and precision. With the robot, the surgeon is stillvastly improves accuracy, some studies suggest that it employing proven principles that have been shown toincreases accuracy by three hundred percent.maximize patient outcomes and implant durability, but withI am routinely amazed at how all portions of the robotic enhanced accuracy in real time. cases are reproducibly executed with increased precision Heres how robots are utilized and surgeon control amounting to what I believe is a more Pre-Surgical Planning: using the latest in 3-D modelingreproducible and life-like feeling knee.and imaging, your doctor can be more precise about yourAnd some of the benetsspecic anatomy to ensure the best possible size and t forThe data on the use of RAJR suggest that it lowers the risk your implant. of complications and failure. The accuracy helps to remove the diseased or problematic bone while preserving the health of the surrounding bone and tissues.And because of the higher precision and ability to t to a patients individual anatomy, this type of procedure also may improve healing and recovery times. This allows patients to get back to feeling better faster and allows for return to activity faster.What it means for youIf youre having a robotic-assisted joint replacement procedure, just remember that your doctor is still in charge and is the one doing the surgery using all his/her years of experience and judgment. He/she is simply using the robot to improve precision being more accurate with the use of technology. You can have greater condence knowing that with this type of procedure, you may increase the likelihood of faster recovery and better overall outcomes.12'