Surgical Robotics Technology
What is orthopaedic surgery?
Orthopaedic surgery is a type of surgery focused on conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. This includes bones and joints and their associated soft tissues including ligaments, tendons, nerves and muscles.
Common orthopaedic surgery procedures
- Joint arthroscopy is a minimally invasive technique whereby probes are inserted into the joint to diagnose and repair damaged joint tissue such as torn ligaments or floating cartilage.
- Arthroplasty is surgery to replace whole joints due to damage caused by osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. The most common operations are knee and hip replacements. Partial knee resurfacing is also being used for patients in the early stages of osteoarthritis.
- Repair of bone fracture involves repairing a broken bone by using metal screws, pins, rods or plates to hold the bone in position. A variety of techniques can be used depending on the severity, position, and type of fracture to ensure that the bones heal correctly and maintain function.
- General damaged muscle or tendon repair could be a chronic injury due to progressive deterioration of the tissue or acute injuries due to trauma.
- Corrective surgery is surgery often carried out on babies and children for congenital deformities. The procedures correct problems of anatomical alignment which could cause long-term problems if left untreated.
Orthopaedic robotic surgery
Orthopaedic robotic surgery systems are becoming increasingly utilised for certain procedures, notably joint arthroplasty surgery (joint replacement surgery). For joint arthroplasty surgery, the main goal of the robotic systems is to support in precisely and accurately preparing the bone, restoring the limb alignment and the physiological kinematics of the joint. This can result in fewer complications, less pain and faster recovery times for the patient, when compared to traditional techniques.
