WINTER 2024
NEWS
KNEE TREATMENT RESEARCH-BASED INSIGHTS THAT MAXIMIZE PATIENT OUTCOMES
THE BENEFITS OF
RODNEY BENNER, MD
ROBOTICASSISTED TKA
When Rodney Benner, MD, first started hearing about roboticassisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA), he was skeptical. Over the next few years, the Shelbourne Knee Center orthopedic surgeon learned more and finally decided to try it. Now, after performing about 200 roboticassisted TKAs in 2023, Dr. Benner is an ardent supporter of the procedure for primary TKA. “The increased data from robotics compared to conventional instrumentation enables me to evaluate and adjust factors in knee replacement that I haven’t been able to fine-tune before,” says Dr. Benner.
Data-Driven Decision-Making Data-driven insights from ROSA Knee System, the robotic surgical assistant Dr. Benner uses, inform his decision-making and enable him to focus on achieving the optimal outcome for each patient. Objective intraoperative metrics on soft tissue enable surgeons to accurately assess soft tissue balancing and make intraoperative adjustments to planned limb and component alignment based on the data. “Robotic-assisted TKA helps us fine-
tune the soft tissue balancing and use the data to align the limb the way we want to,” he says.
Increased Precision and Accuracy The ability to balance soft tissue was a key factor in Dr. Benner’s decision to try robotic-assisted TKA. Before, Dr. Benner had to try to determine the appropriate soft tissue balance through well-trained feel intraoperatively. With ROSA Knee System, he now has objective measurements of the soft tissue. Using that objective data and robotic guidance, Dr. Benner has adapted his surgical technique for increased precision and accuracy. Along with soft tissue balancing, robotic-assisted TKA helps him with bone resections, implant selection and accurate positioning of components. Now, Dr. Benner often chooses
different implants and can resect less bone in certain parts of the knee. Robotic-assisted TKA is especially beneficial in complex cases, such as patients with valgus deformity. Achieving appropriate alignment and soft tissue balancing throughout the full range of motion and achieving rotational alignment are much more difficult in these patients, potentially leading to implant failure. Data from the robotic surgical assistant enable Dr. Benner to balance soft tissue and align the limb more precisely in both complex and straightforward cases. Multiple studies show that robotic-assisted TKA is more accurate than conventional instrumentation. In one cadaveric study, for example, four high-volume arthroplasty surgeons performed 14 robotically assisted TKAs and 20 conventional TKAs. Three of the surgeons had no prior experience in robotics. Researchers CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Shelbourne Knee Center
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| FixKnee.com 1 2/22/24 12:11 PM