Optimizing operating room efficiency in robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty through manufacturing efficiency...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Healthcare Operations Management
• Manufacturing Process Engineering

Background:

• Manufacturing efficiency principles are increasingly explored for improving operating room (OR) throughput and patient outcomes.
• Real-world validation of these principles in clinical settings, particularly for robotic-assisted procedures, is limited.
• Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RATKA) presents opportunities for operational improvements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of manufacturing efficiency principles on the operational excellence of RATKA procedures.
• To assess the effect of these principles on surgical team consistency during RATKA.
• To validate the application of lean manufacturing concepts in a real-world surgical environment.

Main Methods:

• Study included 31 patients undergoing RATKA over eight surgery days.
• Efficiency was monitored using an AI-enabled camera and analyzed with an AI-backed process digital twin platform.
• Statistical analysis included independent t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests to compare variables.

Main Results:

• Four procedural modifications based on lean principles were implemented.
• A significant reduction in preparation time was observed (mean difference = 4.3, p = 0.007).
• The number of surgical sets opened per case decreased from ten to seven.

Conclusions:

• Implementing efficiency principles enhances OR preparation, staff consistency, and training.
• These improvements lead to reduced surgical times, minimized waste, and better OR throughput.
• Streamlining processes through lean principles improves patient flow and OR operations.