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Esther Nissen

Convergent Science

11 March 2020

How Robotics Function Within Orthopedic Surgery

Within orthopedic surgery, the use of computer-assisted technology and robotics has

grown quickly. However, with the rise of these new technologies, concerns also arise about

them. These concerns include efficiency, success, and if the benefits really do outweigh the

costs. Presently, few procedures use robotic technology during surgery. These procedures

include partial knee and hip replacements, and in these cases the robotic technology is only used

to improve the surgery’s precision, not complete surgeries alone without surgeons. Furthermore,

during current surgeries, the robotic technology is only able to help in the procedure if the

surgeon is well prepared and can guide it through the process. However, with the development of

the robotic and computer-assisted systems, many surgeons are intimidated by using a robot to

perform surgery that they can do themselves. Moreover, due to the fast-paced evolution of the

technology, not a lot of research has been made to see if robotic and computer-assisted systems

really do produce superior results. Studies done on real people are difficult to complete because

it involves randomized sorting of patients and surgeons, which can be tricky. Therefore, it is

complicated to see if the robotic technology really does impact patients' results. Short-term

studies show that it does not, and according to longer term studies, it can take up to 10 to 20

years to see technology’s impact. This is because the robotic and computer-assisted technology

improves implant positioning, making it more durable, which cannot be seen until well into the

future. In addition, even though there has been little research about the success of robotic

technology, physicians and hospitals continue to buy the technological systems. This can be
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dedicated to the marketing done by the companies making the new technology. The marketing

leads to physicians buying the technology. However, the continuous sales of these companies

must draw the conclusion that the robotic technology leads to good results. Additionally, due to

these advertisements, patients come in looking for procedures done by robotic and computer-

assisted systems. People can see how technology has improved other aspects of their lives, so

they look for physicians who are willing to perform surgeries with robotic technology because

they view technology with better accuracy and efficiency, and therefore better results. The

demand from patients for robotic technology leads physicians to want to buy more of this

technology so they can draw more patients in. Demand is customer driven. However, with this

new technology comes greater expenses and costs. Not only does purchasing the technology cost

a lot, but training and learning with it costs both time and money. Furthermore, the research that

has been done to see how technology impacts patients has a biased aspect to it. This is because

the companies selling the technology are most likely the ones performing the research, since the

costs are too high for a regular hospital to be willing to research the success and efficiency of the

computer-assisted technology. While this may be the case currently, as time passes the costs are

likely to go down as the demand increases. In addition, while cost for technology is great in the

beginning, it can also save money long-term because the technology has more precise outcomes.

Therefore, surgeons can solve the problem the first-time by spending more money on the

technology, instead of spending less money the first-time to perform the surgery without the

technology, only to have failed results, and therefore having to perform the surgery over again,

making it cost more. Furthermore, robotic technology is believed to expand in the future, so long

as the price lowers with more products coming into the market. While robotic technology may
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never become completely independent during surgery due to differences between each patient, it

can still improve surgical outcomes with a surgeon there.

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Works Cited

Dyrda, Laura. "Robotics in Orthopedic Surgery: 6 Points on the Present and Future." Becker's

Spine Review, 13 June 2011, www.beckersspine.com/orthopedic-spine-device-implant-

news/item/4201-robotics-in-orthopedic-surgery-6-points-on-the-present-and-future?

qh=YTo2OntpOjA7czo4OiJyb2JvdGljcyI7aToxO3M6NToicm9ib3QiO2k6MjtzOjc6InJv

Ym90aWMiO2k6MztzOjk6lnJvYm90aWNzJyI7aTo0O3M6Njoicm9ib3RzIjtpOjU7czo3

OiJyb2JvdCdzIjt9. Accessed 11 Mar. 2020.