The trends in robotic-assisted knee arthroplasty: A statewide database study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Technological advancements have enabled robotic-assisted knee arthroplasty (raKA).
• The adoption and trends of raKA in clinical practice are of significant interest.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the utilization and institutional trends of robotic-assisted knee arthroplasty (raKA) in New York State.
• To compare raKA with conventional knee arthroplasty regarding utilization patterns and outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of knee arthroplasty cases from NYS SPARCS (2009-2013).
• Comparison of robotic-assisted (raKA) versus non-robotic-assisted knee arthroplasty procedures.
• Analysis of utilization rates and institutional trends, focusing on teaching hospitals.

Main Results:

• Robotic-assistance in knee arthroplasty increased by 500% during the study period.
• 80% of robotic-assisted knee arthroplasties were performed in teaching hospitals, with a greater trend increase observed there.
• Blood transfusion rates were significantly different between raKA (6.6%) and non-raKA (10.9%) procedures.

Conclusions:

• Robotic-assisted knee arthroplasty utilization significantly increased in New York State, with a notable concentration in teaching hospitals.
• While raKA demonstrated lower overall transfusion rates, teaching hospitals experienced higher rates, suggesting a potential learning curve effect.
• The findings highlight evolving trends in knee arthroplasty and the role of technology and institutional setting in surgical outcomes.