Knee Replacement Surgery with “Robotic Surgery” Technology

Robotic surgery for knee replacement is a technology developed to enhance the effectiveness of knee replacement surgery by increasing precision, safety, and reducing surgical errors.
The use of robotic surgery technology must be under the control of surgeons who have experience in traditional surgery and completed specialized robotic surgery training.
The procedure of robotic surgery for knee replacement starts with the robot processing images of the affected knee and creating digital personalized models. The robotic arms cut the deteriorated cartilage and knee bone sections with the precision at 0.2 millimeters per time, achieving surgical results with deviation not exceeding 1 millimeter or 1 degree of knee angle. The process is monitored real-time through 3D images, enabling the prosthesis to be precisely placed in the original position.
Robotic surgery for knee replacement is suitable for patients with severe symptoms or abnormalities, such as patients who cannot walk due to knee pain, patients with hip or leg deformities, and patients with joint abnormalities from age-related degeneration, accidents, or rheumatoid arthritis.
Before deciding to receive robotic surgery for knee replacement, patients should take physical examinations such as blood tests, urine tests, chest X-rays, and electrocardiograms, stop thrombolytic medications and anti-coagulant drugs, perform muscle strengthening exercises to prepare leg muscles around the knee, and CT scan for pre-surgical planning.
After receiving robotic surgery for knee replacement, patients should follow doctor’s recommendations and take pain relievers as prescribed, perform physiotherapy trained by medical teams and physiotherapists during hospital recovery to strengthen the knee, and avoid direct contact with surgical wounds and the waterproof dressing.

Currently, knee osteoarthritis is a common problem in elderly patients. Additionally, these patients often develop severe knee osteoarthritis that prevents normal daily activities, necessitating knee replacement surgery to restore functions.

Meanwhile, medical technology has been continuously developed. Currently, there is an innovative robotic surgery for knee replacement (robotic knee replacement) offering surgical precision, effective treatment outcomes, reduced surgical complications, shorter recovery time, and helping patients move and live normally more quickly.

Table of Contents

What is robotic surgery for knee replacement?

Many people may misunderstand that robotic surgery means performing surgical procedures without surgeons. In fact, robotic surgery for knee replacement is a technology developed to enhance the effectiveness of knee replacement surgery by increasing precision, safety, and reducing surgical errors. Robotic surgery for knee replacement involves using computer equipment and measurements which can calculate and position new artificial joints to fit appropriately and specifically for each patient’s unique natural body structure. This helps reduce the problems of joint deformity and imbalance that may cause loose or subsiding artificial joints, which would require second knee surgery for correction.

The use of robotic surgery technology must be under the control of surgeons who have experience in traditional surgery and completed specialized robotic surgery training. The surgeons perform knee surgery in conjunction with various tools including robotic arms, 3D imaging cameras that display real-time results, and processing equipment. These allow the surgeons to adjust artificial joints to match each patient’s movement during surgery, creating tailor-made patient-specific artificial joints that fits perfectly for each individual.

How does robotic surgery play an important role in knee replacement surgery?

In a medical perspective, robotic surgery is considered another important tool that makes knee replacement surgery more precise and much safer. Besides enabling surgeons to see bone and joint structures clearly through 3D imaging, robotic surgery is equipped with mechanical arms that can move, bend, and rotate. These robotic limbs make surgery in difficult-to-reach or complex positions easier and help reduce post-surgical complications. Additionally, patients can recover much faster due to less blood loss and smaller surgical wounds.

Currently, robotic surgery plays a crucial role in treating various diseases more effectively and safely, including gastrointestinal diseases, diseases related to liver, bile, and pancreas, urinary system diseases, gynecological diseases, respiratory and thoracic diseases, as well as general surgery such as stomach, intestinal, and knee surgery.

Comparison between traditional surgery and robotic surgery for knee replacement

Traditional surgery

Traditional knee replacement surgery involves removing deteriorated joint surfaces and replacing them with synthetic metal and special plastic prosthesis. The advantage of this knee surgery is it helps patients return to normal movement. This surgery relies mainly on surgical experience, but surgeons still tend to have human errors that affect surgical precision, such as incorrect knee angle placement. The incidents may prevent patients from using knees naturally for activities like sitting on the floor, squatting, sitting cross-legged, meditating, running, or exercising.

Robotic surgery

The working principle of robotic surgery in treating knee osteoarthritis and knee replacement involves pre-surgical planning of knee size, position, and angle through CT scan processing, which differs from traditional surgery that uses X-ray images. Results are then sent to robotic arms to perform knee surgery, increasing surgical precision, reducing tissue and tendon damage around the knee, decreasing surgical errors, and preventing complications during surgery. For example, if a surgeon accidentally cuts other areas, the robot immediately stops working. This allows patients to recover faster. Additionally, robotic surgery helps surgeons balance artificial joints at the millimeter level to best suit each patient’s body, enabling patients to move joints in all degrees naturally.

Although robotic surgery requires additional equipment connecting the robot and the patient’s body with specific size, resulting in additional costs compared to traditional surgery, kdms Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, is committed to making this robotic knee replacement technology accessible to most patients at reasonable prices and cost-effective when compared to patient outcomes.

How does robotic surgery for knee replacement work step by step?

The procedure of robotic surgery for knee replacement starts with the robot processing images of the affected knee joint from data input by the surgeons, creating digital models with the same characteristics as the patient’s knee. The knee surgery begins with opening the affected knee area, then using robotic arms to cut only deteriorated cartilage and knee bone sections. The process is monitored real-time through 3D images. The arms can adjust its cutting precision at 0.2 millimeters per time, achieving surgical results with deviation not exceeding 1 millimeter or 1 degree of knee angle. Once all deteriorated joint surfaces are removed, the substitute is precisely placed in the original position following the prosthesis placement plan.

Which patient groups are suitable for robotic surgery for knee replacement?

Robotic surgery for knee replacement is suitable for patients with severe symptoms or abnormalities which require surgery to return to normal life, such as patients who cannot walk due to knee pain, patients with hip or leg deformities, unequal leg lengths, joint stiffness during extension and flexion, and patients with joint abnormalities from age-related degeneration, accidents, or rheumatoid arthritis.

How to prepare yourself before robotic surgery for knee replacement?

Before deciding to receive robotic surgery for knee replacement, patients should know preparation steps for both pre- and post-operative care to understand the procedure and achieve optimal results. Pre-operative preparations include:

Physical examinations such as blood tests, urine tests, chest X-rays, and electrocardiograms
Stopping thrombolytic medications and anti-coagulant drugs approximately 1 week before knee surgery. If having chronic conditions, inform the doctor
Muscle strengthening exercises to prepare leg muscles around the knee
CT scan for pre-surgical planning, allowing surgeons to know the affected knee size, position, and angle

Preparations for robotic knee replacement are similar to those of traditional surgery, except patients must have CT scans for surgical precision.

Post-surgical care after robotic surgery for knee replacement

After receiving knee surgery, patients should know self-care steps to relieve their concerns and their family’s, as well as reducing risk of post-surgical complications. Consultation with medical specialists or caring nurses is available. Post-surgical self-care steps include:

Following doctor’s recommendations and taking pain relievers as prescribed
During hospital recovery, medical teams, nurses, and physiotherapists will train patients in physiotherapy to strengthen the knee
Avoiding direct contact with surgical wounds. Doctors will cover wounds with waterproof dressing and skin-adhesive tape. Patients must be careful not to get wounds wet and absolutely must not remove wound dressing themselves
Eating normally except patients with chronic conditions like gout who must control diet to avoid triggering the symptoms
Diabetic patients should avoid starchy and sugary foods to control weight
Each patient has different recovery periods, especially younger patients who can recover faster. Using robotic surgery technology in partial or total knee arthroplasty helps reduce recovery time

Ultimate goal of robotic surgery for knee replacement

Both non-surgical and surgical treatments for knee osteoarthritis have one ultimate goal: good quality of life for patients. With robotic surgery, patients can return to normal daily life and movement with stable, strong, and balanced joints in all degrees of movement. They also meet fast recovery without complications.

What are the perks of having robotic surgery for knee replacement at kdms Hospital?

kdms Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, has experienced surgeons specialized in robotic surgery for hip and knee replacement, which increases surgical precision. Our surgeons explain to patients how robotic surgery works from pre-surgical planning to actual surgery, including pre-surgical joint positioning planning and patient hip or knee size measurement through 3D imaging from CT scan to see appropriate artificial joint positioning with precision that human eyes may not see. Patients can be confident that they will return to a good life as before after treatment.

In summary

Robotic surgery is another option that can make knee replacement surgery more effective, helping patients have better quality of life and return to daily life faster. Therefore, patients who suspect knee osteoarthritis should consult medical specialists about treatment approaches to choose the methods that provide the best and most cost-effective results.

Frequently asked questions

Robotic surgery for knee replacement is a technology developed to enhance the effectiveness of knee replacement surgery by increasing precision, safety, and reducing surgical errors. Robotic surgery for knee replacement involves using computer equipment and measurements which can calculate and position new artificial joints to fit appropriately and specifically for each patient’s unique natural body structure.

Robotic surgery is considered another important tool that makes knee replacement surgery more precise and much safer. Besides enabling surgeons to see bone and joint structures clearly through 3D imaging, robotic surgery is equipped with mechanical arms that can move, bend, and rotate. These robotic limbs make surgery in difficult-to-reach or complex positions easier and help reduce post-surgical complications.