How does the Rosa Knee work?

Patients are increasingly asking how the Rosa robotic knee works. My blog this week looks at this and some key information from Zimmer about the specific function of the Rosa Robotic knee. 

What is the Rosa robotic knee?
Total knee replacement surgery is a very common and effective treatment for patients suffering with knee arthritis. However, the success of an individual’s knee replacement surgery is closely linked to the fit and function of the new knee implant (1). 
 
Greater accuracy than traditional methods
Knee replacement surgery using the ROSA Knee System is very similar to traditional surgery. The ROSA Knee system combines precise data and a robotic arm, with our skill and experience, to offer a surgery that results in an implant position more accurately placed than by traditional methods (2). However, the robot does not perform the surgery, it assists me with live data and guidance throughout the surgery, only moving if I tell it to.

How does ROSA Knee work?
Based on your surgical needs, I will advise on a clinically proven knee implant system that is best suited to you. I will use my experience alongside the information from ROSA to plan specific details of your knee replacement prior to your surgery. During surgery, ROSA uses a camera and sensor to know exactly where your knee is - it can detect even the smallest movements in real-time. Providing live feedback throughout surgery via a digital display and with the help of a robotic guiding arm, ROSA helps me to precisely place the implant according to my plan. 
Finally, to ensure the best possible outcome, ROSA helps me to assess the knee with the implant in place. This allows me to make final precise adjustments before finishing the surgery. Because of this, robotic-assisted surgery has been shown to improve overall outcomes and is associated with lower post-surgery revision rates (3). 

1. Berend ME, Ritter MA, Meding JB, Faris PM, Keating EM, Redelman R, et al. Tibial component failure mechanisms in total knee arthroplasty. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2004(428):26-34. 
2. Parratte, S., et al. Accuracy of New Robotically-assisted Technique for Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Cadaveric Study. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 34(11): 2799-2803, 2019. 
3. Kayani B, Konan S, Tahmassebi J, Pietrzak JRT, Haddad FS. Robotic-arm assisted total knee arthroplasty is associated with improved early functional recovery and reduced time to hospital discharge compared with conventional jig-based total knee arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study. Bone Joint J. 2018;100-B(7):930-7