Noise exposure during robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Occupational Health
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Noise exposure during manual total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surpasses occupational guidelines.
• Prolonged exposure to high noise levels increases the risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in surgical staff.
• Robot-assisted TKA is increasingly adopted, necessitating an evaluation of its associated noise risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess and compare operating theater noise levels during TKA procedures using three distinct robot systems: MAKO, NAVIO, and CORI.
• To determine if noise exposure from robot-assisted TKA exceeds established occupational safety limits.
• To identify potential risks of NIHL for surgical staff involved in these procedures.

Main Methods:

• Measurements of average and peak sound pressure levels were conducted during TKA procedures utilizing MAKO, NAVIO, and CORI robot systems.
• A class 1 sound level meter was employed for accurate noise data collection.
• Data were compared against recommended guidelines from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Main Results:

• All three robot systems (MAKO, NAVIO, CORI) generated noise levels exceeding NIOSH recommended guidelines.
• The MAKO robot exhibited the highest average sound level (93.18 dB(A)).
• The NAVIO robot recorded the highest peak sound level (134.48 dB(C)).

Conclusions:

• Robot-assisted TKA, similar to manual TKA, presents a risk factor for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
• Operating theater staff performing robot-assisted TKA are exposed to noise levels that warrant concern for hearing health.
• Further research is crucial to develop strategies for reducing noise exposure during TKA to protect surgical staff from hearing damage.