Robotic Technology for Total Knee Replacement Patients

Understanding Robotic Technology for Total Knee Replacement Patients

You are unique and so is your individual anatomy.  That’s why the UMass Memorial Arthritis and Joint Replacement Center is proudly offering its patients the benefit of Zimmer Biomet’s ROSA® Knee robotic technology. ROSA, which stands for Robotic Orthopedic Surgical Assistant, is designed to help specially trained joint replacement surgeons tailor the placement of knee implants to the patient’s anatomy. ROSA is used in concert with computer navigation during the total knee replacement procedure.  Together, ROSA and computer navigation improve the precision and accuracy of the total knee replacement implantation.

UMass Memorial Medical Center is the first hospital in Central Massachusetts to perform total knee replacement utilizing ROSA® Knee robotic technology and computer navigation.

Benefits of Robotic Technology

Getting a precise knee implant fit is important to your comfort and overall experience following knee replacement surgery. ROSA uses data collected before and during surgery to inform your surgeon of many details related to your unique anatomy that may affect your implant fit. By using this data to make more informed decisions, your surgeon can plan for and carry out a personalized surgery based upon your individual needs with improved accuracy and precision.  Nearly all patients who are total knee replacement surgery candidates qualify for the procedure using ROSA.

Robotic Surgery Procedure

The surgical procedure using ROSA is similar to traditional total knee replacement, but with a robotic assistant. Your surgeon has been specially trained to use ROSA to personalize the surgical approach for your unique anatomy.

The robot does not operate on its own; it does not move unless your surgeon prompts it to. Your surgeon is still in the operating room the entire time and is making all decisions throughout your surgery and using surgical instruments to carry out the total knee replacement.  ROSA and the computer guidance provide your surgeon with objective data to make informed decisions per-operatively and during the surgical procedure.

During the procedure, ROSA utilizes a camera and optical trackers attached to your leg to know exactly where the knee is in space. If the leg moves even a fraction of an inch, the robot can tell and adjusts accordingly. This helps ensure that the plan your surgeon put into place is executed precisely and with less dissection. Throughout the surgery, ROSA provides your surgeon with data about your knee. This information, combined with your surgeon’s skill, helps them position the implant based on your unique anatomy.

Benefits for You

With the addition of ROSA’s computer-guided, state-of-the-art technology to your knee replacement procedure, this precise, minimally invasive approach provides increased longevity of the total knee implant.  Studies have shown that patients that have computer guided knee replacements have lower revision rates 10 years after surgery.

Interested in Speaking with a ROSA-Trained Orthopedic Surgeon?

For appointments or to learn more, please call 855-UMASS-MD (855-862-7763) and request robotic-assisted technology.