ABC Medical Center remains at the forefront by making the latest technological advances available to its medical staff for the benefit of its patients. The ROSA robotic assistant in knee joint replacement surgeries allows ABC orthopedists who are certified to use the robot to achieve better results during surgery and a shorter recovery time. The use of the robot allows the surgeon an even more precise work in the operating room, performing their surgery in less time.
Robotic surgery technology will allow greater precision in surgery through real-time monitoring with sensors that are placed during surgery to make an adequate measurement of the ligaments and the cuts that are made during the procedure.
As it is a less invasive surgery due to less soft tissue release for adequate mobility and alignment of the knee to be operated on, there is better control of postoperative pain, resulting in shorter hospital stays for patients and allowing a better return to daily activities and a more natural feeling of the knee (prosthesis).
It is used in patients in whom a knee prosthesis has to be placed, that is, people who have some wear for any reason.
What is knee wear?
This condition affects approximately 10% of the world population over 60 years, generally women and, therefore, these joint replacement surgeries are performed in 56% of them.
It has a long evolution, that is, that over many years the joint cartilage wears out, which causes the bone to be exposed, so the knee bones can “brush” or “hit” one another.
Thus, this worn cartilage will produce several changes in the joint and will cause the knee to become inflamed, causing the person to reduce their daily activities, resulting in weight gain and thus, affecting the load on the knee.
There will be times when there are even gait disturbances or claudication, that is, when people limp or feel the need to stop walking to rest a bit. Depending on whether the knee wear is internal or external, it will be noticeably tilted to one side or the other.
In addition, the quadriceps, which is the muscle of the thigh, will weaken, so there will be less mobility to go up and down stairs, contractures, stiffness, crackles (feeling that the knee cracks), and, therefore, small walks and short distances will be tolerated. After sitting, the person will have difficulty and pain when standing up or taking the first steps.
In which people are joint replacement surgery indicated?
A total prosthesis or joint replacement of the knee is recommended for people who have the aforementioned difficulties. The main reasons for performing surgery are:
- Pain
- Functional limitation
Conventionally, without the robot’s assistance, it is a surgery with very good results, improving function and pain. This is a safe and common procedure.
What are prostheses made of and how are they made?
- Metal component that goes into the bone above (femur)
- Metal component that goes into the bone below (tibia)
- There is a plastic made of polyethylene in the middle (liner) and on the patella
Materials:
Femur: chrome, cobalt, or molybdenum
Tibia: titanium, aluminum, or vanadium
Liner: polyethylene
Patella: polyethylene
Why seek surgery with robotic technology?
The ROSA (Robotic Surgical Assistant) robotic assistant is a collaborative system that places the cutting guides that orthopedic surgeons use during surgery based on what they plan, therefore, it helps the surgeon to execute the surgery more accurately following the instructions given; the surgeon is the one who makes the decisions, the robot does not do it by itself.
- Robotic collaboration together with the surgeon (does not replace it)
- Greater precision
- Accuracy
- Live monitoring during the procedure
- Alignment
- Implant prediction
- Safe technology (continuous power supply)
- Personalization (each patient is different)
Advantages for the patient:
- Less post-operative pain
- Less recovery times
- Shorter hospital stay
- Complications are reduced
- Increases precision in implant placement
- Alignment improvement
- Lower readmissions rate
- Less bleeding during surgery
- Lower rates of prosthesis loosening or instability
- Less medication consumption
- More natural knee feel
- Less time to return to your daily activities
Advantages for the doctor:
- Better posture during surgery
- Lower long-term injury rate
- Greater precision
- Accuracy
- Live monitoring during the procedure
This surgery cannot be performed by all orthopedists or knee surgeons, but by those who have a certificate that guarantees the theoretical-practical training they have had and who can take advantage of the robot’s tools.
¿De qué están hechas y cómo están compuestas las prótesis?
- Componente metálico que va en el hueso de arriba (fémur)
- Componente metálico que va en el hueso de abajo (tibia)
- En medio (líner) y en la rótula hay un plástico hecho de polietileno
Materiales:
Fémur: cromo, cobalto o molibdeno
Tibia: titanio, aluminio o vanadio
Líner: polietileno
Rótula: polietileno
¿Por qué buscar una cirugía con tecnología robótica?
El asistente robótico ROSA (Robotic Surgical Assistant) es un sistema colaborativo que sirve para colocar las guías de corte que los cirujanos ortopedistas usan durante la cirugía con base en lo que planifican, por lo tanto, ayuda al cirujano a ejecutar con mayor exactitud la cirugía acatando las instrucciones que se le dan; el cirujano es quien realiza la toma de decisiones, el robot no lo hace por sí mismo.
- Colaboración robótica en conjunto con el cirujano (no lo reemplaza)
- Mayor precisión
- Exactitud
- Monitorización en vivo durante el procedimiento
- Alineación
- Predicción de implantes
- Tecnología segura (alimentador continuo de energía)
- Personalización (cada paciente es distinto)
Ventajas para el paciente:
- Menor dolor posoperatorio
- Menor tiempo de recuperación
- Menor tiempo de estancia hospitalaria
- Disminuyen las complicaciones
- Aumenta la precisión en la colocación de implantes
- Mejoría en la alineación
- Menor tasa de readmisiones
- Menor sangrado durante la cirugía
- Menores tasas de aflojamiento o inestabilidad de la prótesis
- Menor consumo de medicamentos
- Sensación más natural de la rodilla
- Menor tiempo de reincorporación a sus actividades diarias
Ventajas para el médico:
- Mejor postura durante la cirugía
- Menor índice de lesiones a largo plazo
- Mayor precisión
- Exactitud
- Monitorización en vivo durante el procedimiento
Esta cirugía no la pueden hacer todos los ortopedistas o cirujanos de rodilla sino aquellos que cuentan con un certificado que avale el entrenamiento teórico-práctico que ha tenido y que se puedan aprovechar las herramientas del robot.