Robotic-Assisted Joint Arthroplasty: European Perspectives on Surgeon Adoption and Utilization Trends

Robotic-assisted total joint arthroplasty (TJA) has improved surgical precision and implant positioning, yet surgeon perceptions and adoption patterns remain incompletely understood. This study addresses three key questions: (1) What are the current trends in robotic technology use and interest across regions? (2) How does utilization vary by procedure type, and how familiar are surgeons with different robotic systems? and (3) Which factors most influence surgeons' decisions to adopt or avoid robotic assistance in arthroplasty?

A cross-sectional, anonymous survey was conducted in October 2023 among orthopaedic surgeons in Europe. Eligible participants had at least two years of independent practice and an arthroplasty volume of at least 100 cases annually. Surgeons who had financial ties to major implant manufacturers were excluded. The web-based survey collected demographic data, procedure volumes, robotic system usage from 2018 to 2023, and surgeon ratings of adoption factors and familiarity with key robotic platforms. Data were analyzed descriptively.

From 2019 to 2023, the percentage of European surgeons utilizing robotic-assisted TJA rose from 1 to 14%, while the number of surgeons interested in the technology increased from 32 to 50%. The greatest utilization of robotic technology was seen in partial knee arthroplasty (PKA), followed by total knee arthroplasty (TKA), then total hip arthroplasty (THA). Surgeons rated efficiency and plan execution as the two most important factors for utilizing robotics assistance.

Interest and utilization of robotic assistance have grown tremendously over the past five years in Europe. Surgeons view efficiency and plan execution as motivators for using this technology. Further studies are needed to evaluate usage patterns over the next decade.