Knee Replacement – Machine aid
Knee replacement procedures are carried out by expert
surgeons who are adept in alleviating the pain of joint complaints.
However, some knee replacements are now being assisted by robots
with laser precision.
According to research conducted by the Imperial College in
London, partial knee replacement procedures can potentially be
carried out just as accurately by laser guided machines as by human
surgeons. When it comes to knee replacement procedures, it can be
beneficial to use an amalgamation of man and machine but the day
when machines can take full responsibility for all aspects of knee
replacement surgery may still be some way off.
Knee Replacement – Appliance of science
Whilst it appears that the robotic surgeons take slightly longer
to carry out knee replacement procedures, their level of accuracy
in terms of the positioning of knee replacement parts is second to
none. According to the research conducted by the Imperial College,
all the procedures carried out using the mechanical variety of knee
replacement placed the components of the knee within 2 degrees of
the planned positioning. This shows how far knee replacement
surgery has come in the last few decades and using robotic aids in
operations will become a serious consideration for many carrying
out knee replacements in the future as the technology involved
becomes more advanced.
Knee Replacement – Steadying influence
It is important to realise that so far as knee replacement
procedures are concerned, these robotic assistants are not intended
to replace their human counterparts, merely to improve the accuracy
and efficiency of knee replacement operations. So, future
generations of surgeons will no doubt be able to make use of these
robotic aids. Prof Justin Cobb of Imperial College states, “This
study could have important implications for not just surgery, but
also for health economics. By improving the accuracy of surgery,
and ultimately improving the outcome for patients, we can make sure
the knee replacements work better and last longer.”