Reduced workload demand with handheld robotic-assisted revision knee arthroplasty: A multi-centre NASA Task Load...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Surgical Technology
• Ergonomics

Background:

• Revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is increasingly common and technically demanding.
• Surgical teams face high cognitive and physical loads, leading to burnout and injuries.
• Robotic-assisted systems offer potential solutions to mitigate these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a handheld robotic-assisted surgical system on intra-operative workload during revision TKA.
• To compare workload between robotic-assisted and manual instrumentation approaches.

Main Methods:

• A multi-centre observational study across Europe.
• 212 surveys using the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) were collected from surgeons and staff after 100 revision TKA procedures.
• Workload was assessed across six NASA-TLX domains.

Main Results:

• Robotic-assistance significantly reduced overall workload (median 0.0) compared to manual instrumentation (median 8.5, p=0.0003).
• Significantly lower mental demand, physical demand, and effort were observed with robotic assistance.
• Surgical performance, temporal demand, and frustration were not compromised by robotic assistance.

Conclusions:

• Handheld robotic-assisted systems may reduce cognitive and physical strain in complex revision TKA.
• Robotic technology can enhance surgical ergonomics, reduce fatigue, and improve staff well-being.
• Future research should include objective ergonomic measures and long-term outcome assessments.