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cuts and the position-
ing of implants, says
Dr. Nonweiler.
"Without robotics, we
put a cutting block in
the joint using an align-
ment rod, eyeball the
alignment and make a
cut. That's the way it's
been done for 40
years," he says. "We're
good at it and it works,
but we're not as good
as a computer."
Because the technol-
ogy is so new, there's
little research that proves the robot is superior to conventional joint replace-
ment surgery, though some initial studies suggest it leads to better joint align-
ment. Using robotic technology to make more precise cuts and align implants
with the joint's natural anatomy almost certainly leads to improved recovery
and better outcomes, says Dr. Nonweiler. "For partial knee replacements, I used
to tell patients that it would take 6 weeks to get over the initial phase of recov-
ery," he says. "Now with the robot, I'm telling them that the worst of it is over in
3 weeks, and by 6 weeks they'll be feeling pretty good. In general, we're seeing
recovery times that are about half as long as they used to be."
• MOVING FORWARD Use of robotic systems will become more widespread as they become
smarter and more user-friendly.
"You're not basing cuts
and implant positioning
on only what the naked
eye can see."
— Victor Khabie,
MD, FAAOS, FACS
Gerald
Nelson,
OPA-C
