How Robotic Technology Fine-Tunes Accuracy During Joint Replacement Surgery

Dealing with joint pain day after day is mentally and physically draining. If you’ve tried physical therapy and are constantly taking painkillers without significant relief, a joint replacement is likely the next step. This type of treatment replaces the damaged areas in your joint, and can be performed robotically for more precision.

Dr. Steven J. Svabek, DO, PA offers robotic-assisted joint replacement surgery to the community of Coral Springs, Florida. If you have recurring pain in your knee, shoulder, or hip that persists through conservative treatments, Dr. Svabek and his team get you the treatment you need so you can get back to your busy life.

Why do you need a joint replacement

Your joints play a huge role in your ability to walk, run, and reach the top shelf of your closet. Over time, however, your joints suffer damage from either injury or wear-and-tear. This often causes pain and joint dysfunction.

For mild to moderate joint pain, conservative measures like physical therapy and activity modifications are enough. But when your pain persists through these treatments, and affects your day-to-day living, it’s time to consider more aggressive measures.

Joint replacement surgery is recommended for a number of different reasons. Pain that interferes with your life is just one of these reasons. Other factors that contribute to joint replacement surgery include:

• Severe osteoarthritis
• Joint damage from an injury
• Intense pain that keeps you awake
• Inability to perform tasks without help
• Decreased mobility or functionality

Dr. Svabek also recommends joint replacement surgery if you’ve been taking medications for a long time and are now having side effects. If other, less invasive surgical procedures are unlikely to help your knee, hip, or shoulder pain, a joint replacement is also a consideration.

The facts on robotic joint replacement surgery

Before robotics were a staple in orthopedic operating rooms, Dr. Svabek and other orthopedic surgeons performed joint replacement surgery the traditional way. This involved making an incision, and using surgical instruments to resect and remove the damaged areas of your joint.

A prosthetic, usually made of ceramic or metal, is placed in the joint to restore function and decrease pain. The incision is then closed and you’re on your way back to an active lifestyle.

While joint replacement surgery still requires removal of damaged tissue and bone and insertion of a prosthetic, robotic joint surgery is revolutionizing the accuracy and precision that’s just not possible with human hands.

Robotic joint replacement surgery uses a specialized arm that’s programmed to your specific anatomy in the damaged joint. This allows for Dr. Svabek to make precise cuts that allow for a better prosthetic fit.

It also minimizes tissue damage around the joint, which makes for a less painful and usually quicker recovery. 

It’s important to know that the robot isn’t able to do the surgery on its own. Dr. Svabek has control of the machine the whole time, and guides it to do what was planned before your surgery with 3D imaging.

Is robotic joint replacement surgery more precise?

The simple answer to this question is yes. The robot doesn’t operate alone; in fact, Dr. Svabek has complete control of the machine for the entire procedure. Robotic-assisted joint replacements are much more precise, due to several different factors.

Robotic joint replacement surgery starts even before you’re in the operating room. 3D images are taken of your joint, either by a CT scan or an MRI. This allows Dr. Svabek to create a customized surgical plan around your specific joint and tissues.

The 3D image also allows the perfect fit for the prosthetic joint that takes the place of your damaged one. The machine creates the absolute perfect position for the implant, and allows Dr. Svabek to have the exact size you need.

The robot also delivers unrivaled precision when it comes to the actual surgery. With Dr. Svabek’s guidance, the robot makes precision cuts that only a machine could perform. This is due to the specialized dimensions that are created in the 3D image of your joint.

If you’re in need of a precise and safe joint replacement, don’t hesitate to call the office today at 954-466-9140 or book an appointment on the website using our convenient scheduling tool.