In computer-assisted robotic surgery, a robot acts as an extension of the surgeon’s eyes and hands in a minimally invasive surgery to replace an arthritic hip. The robotics help surgeons operate more effectively through a smaller incision.
Total hip replacements are routinely done around with world with a high degree of success. When the replacements do fail, it is often due to misalignment of the prosthesis. There is a very small window in which to place the implant appropriately. If the implant is misaligned, it is likely it will eventually become painful and may even loosen. A follow-up surgery or revision is necessary to fix this. Many orthopedic surgeons now use robotic guidance systems to assist with removing and resurfacing only the arthritic part of a hip. This technique uses 3D computer mapping and micro-robotics to provide the surgeon with an amazing level of accuracy. The implant can be aligned much more accurately than with the naked eye. It has been shown to be precise to within fractions of a millimeter and assists with the balance of the implant joint.
The robotics are employed through small “minimally invasive” incisions, which result in less scarring and blood loss. Ultimately, the patient can have a shorter hospital stay and recovery period than with a conventional hip replacement.
