Patient Perspective on Robotic-Assisted Total Joint Arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Medical Robotics
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Robotic-assisted total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is increasingly adopted, yet patient and surgeon perceptions and cost-effectiveness remain debated.
• Patient understanding and expectations of robotic TJA are not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient expectations and understanding of robotic technology in total joint arthroplasty (TJA).

Main Methods:

• A 9-question survey was administered to 498 preoperative and postoperative hip and knee patients.
• Responses were collected from patients of five surgeons at a high-volume academic center and descriptively analyzed.

Main Results:

• 69.1% of patients were aware of robotic TJA, but only 19.5% considered it superior to manual surgery.
• Most patients did not view robotic TJA as minimally invasive and were uncomfortable with potentially longer incisions.
• A significant majority preferred surgeons proficient in manual TJA, questioning the added capability of robotic technology.

Conclusions:

• While awareness of robotic TJA is present, patients do not consistently recognize its superiority or benefits over manual techniques.
• Patient preference for surgeon proficiency in manual TJA may impact future training paradigms.
• Surgeons must consider patient expectations, goals, and outcomes alongside costs when deciding on robotic TJA implementation.