How robotic hip replacements can change your life

Medicine has advanced quite a lot in the past few years, and lately there has been an increased use of robotics in many different types of procedure.

The use of these new technologies is a big leap in medicine, and it makes a lot of procedures that were done in the past even more efficient than they already were. While robotics are broad in medicine today, we are going to focus on robotic hip replacement.

What is a robotic hip joint replacement?

Unlike regular hip replacement surgery, the robotic one uses a computer to generate a 3D model of your hip. Then, a robotic arm is used to prepare the acetabulum, which is a hemispherical socket that encloses the head of the femur at the hip joint, for putting the cup in the desired position.

While the computer and the robotic arm do a lot of work, an orthopedic surgeon in Melbourne will still have to do a big part of the procedure. Almost everything from the surgical perspective is done by a surgeon, and the robotic arm is there only to ensure that everything is perfectly aligned and placed.

What conditions can be treated?

There are all kinds of conditions that can be treated with a robotic hip replacement, but some of the most common ones are the same ones that are treated with regular hip replacement surgery. Some of those procedures are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, a fractured hip, avascular necrosis, and dysplasia.

When are robotic hip replacements recommended?

If someone suffers from severe hip pain or some kind of stiffness that is a result of non-inflammatory degenerative joint diseases such as osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis, or traumatic arthritis, robotic hip replacement is highly recommended, as it will take care of that stiffness and severe pain.

Robotic hip replacement is also recommended for everyone who has already tried different treatments, such as bracing, medication, or joint fluid supplements. If those treatments did not work out for you, then a robotic hip replacement will certainly help.

What are some of the benefits of the surgery?

Numerous benefits can be gained by getting robotic-assisted surgery. The biggest one is the accuracy of the placement and alignment of the hip implants, especially when compared to traditional hip replacement. Another element that shows a lot of improvement is the desired length of the hip and the high reduction in the chance of experiencing hip dislocation.

During the surgery, you will lose less blood, which will make recovery much faster, and thanks to the robotic arm that assists the surgery, a lot of your healthy bone is going to be preserved. Many patients also say that the hip they receive from robotic-assisted surgery feels exactly like a natural hip.

How is a robotic-assisted hip replacement performed?

The first thing that you can expect when you go in for a robotic hip replacement in Melbourne is to get a CT scan. This will help the surgeon generate a 3D model of your unique anatomy. Once the model is obtained, the computer is going to provide real-time data to the surgeon that will allow him to plan out the surgery.

After the surgeon plans everything out, preparation is the next step, and this one takes place in the operating room. The surgeon will guide the robotic arm to remove bone and cartilage that has been ruined by arthritis. Upon removing all unhealthy bone and cartilage, the insertion is the next step, and the surgeon will use the robotic arm to assist him in placing the new hip with perfect accuracy.

How expensive is the procedure?

Considering that all of the technology is relatively new, one would expect the procedures to be quite expensive, right? Well, usually, the procedure is very affordable, as the cost of the procedure is determined by the extent of damage caused to your hip, the cost of appointments, the price of the surgeon, the anesthetist, and the recovery attire.

Consultations are usually the best way to get an estimate, so consult with your surgeon about potential expenses.

In the end, how does this compare to regular hip replacement?

Overall, robotic-assisted surgery is slightly more efficient than the regular hip replacement procedure. However, in cases where precision and alignment play a bigger role than usual, the outcome is going to be much better, especially if the surgeon has mastered the robotic arm.

While the use of robotics may seem a bit futuristic to some and perhaps a bit risky, they are becoming used in medicine for all kinds of procedures. What makes robotics great is that, unlike humans, they never make mistakes, and all of the calculations are perfect, so they increase the success of pretty much any procedure they are involved in.