Rise of the robots: are they coming?

Abstract

The use of technology has increased over the last decade across all surgical specialties. Robotics is the ultimate tool and can accomplish accuracy and consistency for surgeons executing their preoperative plan. In orthopedic surgery, robotic-assisted knee and hip arthroplasty techniques have experienced rapid growth, and the next field of interest is, without a doubt, shoulder arthroplasty. While the survival rates extend to over 90% at 10 years of follow-up and overall satisfaction rates are very high, some report that up to 10% of the patients with a shoulder replacement remain dissatisfied with their postoperative range of motion and overall functional outcome. There have been numerous advances in implant designs and materials as well as the introduction of enhanced recovery programs, however, reported patient outcomes, and reoperation rates may not always have significantly benefited from those advances in shoulder arthroplasty over the last two decades. Lately, the digitalization of shoulder arthroplasty has drawn a lot of attention with the intent to improve the correction of joint deformities and component implantation, possibly leading to enhanced patient outcomes after shoulder arthroplasty. The potential benefits of shoulder robots are multiple. First, by converting data from imaging or intraoperative anatomy mapping, a patient-specific 3-dimensional representation of the joint may facilitate surgical planning and subsequent boundary control for the bony resections, reaming, and implant positioning. Second, the system may allow intraoperative assessment of the range of motion and joint stability. Third, research may be facilitated and encouraged by supporting case-by-case data collection. This next evolution in surgical technology aims to make shoulder replacements accurate and reproducible in both easy and challenging shoulders and usable by both low-volume and highly experienced surgeons.