Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty: What are Patients' Perspectives, Understanding and Expectations?

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Medical Robotics
• Patient Education

Background:

• Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA) utilization is increasing.
• Understanding patient perceptions of RA-TKA is crucial for shared decision-making and effective patient education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient knowledge and perceptions of RA-TKA.
• To identify factors influencing patient willingness to undergo RA-TKA and willingness to pay extra for it.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire was administered to 440 potential total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients.
• Data collected included RA-TKA knowledge, socioeconomic factors, and willingness to pay (WTP).
• Logistic regression analyzed the influence of patient characteristics and surgeon preferences on RA-TKA perceptions.

Main Results:

• Nearly 40% of respondents lacked RA-TKA knowledge; only 40.7% desired its use, and 8.7% were willing to pay extra.
• Perceived benefits included accurate implant placement, better outcomes, and faster recovery.
• Key concerns involved malfunction risks, reduced surgeon role, and lack of research.
• Surgeon preference strongly correlated with patient willingness for RA-TKA and willingness to pay extra.

Conclusions:

• Patient understanding of RA-TKA is notably limited.
• Online misinformation poses a risk to prospective TKA patients.
• Orthopaedic surgeons must proactively educate patients on RA-TKA's pros and cons.