Traditional vs. Robotic Knee Replacements

Technology has improved accuracy in our lives. It allows us to collect more data and to analyze it faster. Thanks to tech, we can better model scenarios to improve our understanding of them. We can also communicate more quickly and, thanks to now-pervasive tools like spell check, with fewer errors. 

Robotic knee replacement offers yet another example of how technology can increase accuracy and improve outcomes. 

With this type of surgical procedure, Karl Siebuhr, MD, uses a robotic arm and a 3D model of your knee to help ensure you’re getting precisely what you need where you need it. Dr. Siebuhr is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon with extensive experience in robotic-assisted knee replacement. 

If you need knee replacement, talk with our team at Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida in Ocala, Florida. We can help you determine if you’re a candidate for this type of procedure.

What sets robotic knee replacement apart

During traditional knee surgery, your surgeon uses their hands and tools to perform the necessary work, like removing damaged tissue and replacing it with your new artificial knee joint. They rely on their own expertise to know what needs to happen to individual components in your knee.

The difference with robotic knee replacement surgery starts well before your procedure. We perform a computed tomography (CT) scan of your knee beforehand. This gives us a 3D image so we can see precisely what’s going on with your joint and the surrounding tissue. 

Dr. Siebuhr uses that scan to tailor a surgical plan for you. He can determine precisely where cuts need to be made and exactly how large or small those incisions need to be, for example. That scan also helps him size the right artificial joint for your specific knee. 

Then, he loads all of that information into the robotic tool he uses during your procedure. Your knee replacement gets performed via a robotic arm that follows the 3D scan of your knee, improving accuracy and precision. Dr. Siebuhr guides the robotic arm throughout the procedure, but leveraging this technology helps him do what’s needed down to the millimeter. 

The benefits of robot-assisted surgery

Robotic knee replacement delivers a range of benefits to patients who choose it. 

Because robotic knee replacement helps Dr. Siebuhr best plan for and execute your knee replacement, it increases the likelihood that your artificial joint gets placed precisely. At the same time, because the robotic arm gives Dr. Siebuhr such a high degree of control, it minimizes damage to the surrounding tissue. 

As a result, many patients who choose a robot-assisted procedure have a shorter hospital stay and a shorter recovery time in general. 

If you’re curious to see if robotic knee surgery could be right for you, call our office or request your appointment online.