THE FUTURE OF ROBOTICS IN ORTHOPAEDICS - WHAT THE NEXT FIVE YEARS COULD MEAN FOR JOINT SURGERY

Dr Sachin Bhonsle, Senior Consultant - Orthopedics & Joint Replacement Surgeries, Fortis Hospital, Mulund

Imagine walking freely, pain-free just weeks after a knee or hip replacement, almost as if the joint had never failed you. That future may arrive much sooner than we think. As someone who has spent decades restoring mobility to patients’ lives through complex joint and fracture surgeries, I am convinced that next-generation robotic systems will revolutionize orthopaedics. These new tools promise to make joint replacements safer, more precise and recovery far quicker.

Traditionally, orthopaedic surgery has relied heavily on surgeon skill and experience. Even a well-performed manual surgery can leave behind tiny imperfections, millimetre-level misalignments or slight leg-length differences that over time may cause discomfort, abnormal wear, or even necessitate revision surgery. Robotic-assisted joint replacement bridges that gap by combining human expertise with machine precision.

Current robotic systems use cutting-edge technologies such as computer-assisted navigation, 3D imaging, and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the surgeon's capability. These systems allow detailed three-dimensional mapping of a patient’s bones and joints, creating a precise roadmap for surgery. This level of detail helps in creating an optimal surgical plan that accounts for a patient's unique anatomy and biomechanics. Studies show that robotic-assisted surgeries reduce the likelihood of complications such as misalignment by up to 50% when compared to traditional methods.

In the operating room, robotic arms execute bone cuts and implant placements with sub-millimetre accuracy. This degree of precision is unmatched by human hands alone. Minimally invasive techniques employed in robotic-assisted surgeries allow for smaller incisions, less damage to soft tissues, and reduced blood loss. This results in less pain, less inflammation, and a gentler post-surgery experience. According to a meta-analysis published in the Journal of Arthroplasty (2020), patients undergoing robotic-assisted total knee replacement (TKR) have shown a reduction in hospital stay by 1-2 days and a significant decrease in pain levels post-surgery compared to conventional methods.

What does that precision mean for patients? For one less disruption to soft tissues, smaller incisions, and reduced blood loss. That means less pain, less inflammation, and a much gentler post-surgery experience. Many patients now begin to walk with assistance within a day or two, and leave hospital sooner. Rehabilitation is smoother; return to daily activities is faster.

Beyond a quicker recovery, robotic-assisted surgery also offers a better long-term outcome. With implants aligned and balanced properly, the artificial joint wears evenly which reduces the risk of dislocation, premature loosening or uneven wear. In practical terms, this translates into implants that last longer and perform better over many years.

Looking ahead over the next five years, I foresee robotic tools becoming the standard care for joint replacements and complex orthopaedic procedures. Surgeons will be able to personalise surgery for each patient’s unique anatomy whether it’s a simple knee replacement or a complicated fracture repair. As these systems get more widespread and refined, more people will benefit from predictable outcomes, shorter hospital stays and less pain.

Yet, robotics will never replace the surgeon it amplifies what we, as surgeons, can do. Our judgment, experience and holistic understanding of the patient will remain central. What robotics does is raise the consistency and safety of surgery to a whole new level.

For patients considering joint replacement, this means a new era of care: one where the “big surgery” feels less daunting, rehabilitation is gentler, and the promise of a long-lasting, well-functioning joint is more than a hope it becomes a realistic expectation. As I look ahead, I am confident that robotics will not just change orthopaedics it will restore lives with greater precision and safety.

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