More than 1,000 robotic-assisted knee replacements have been performed at Emory Johns Creek Hospital, according to a recent announcement from Emory Healthcare. The hospital is utilizing Mako SmartRobotics technology in the procedures, which are increasingly being offered as an outpatient option, allowing most patients to return home the same day.
The technology employs a 3D model of the patient’s knee created from a CT scan taken prior to surgery. This allows surgeons to plan implant placement with millimeter-level precision, according to Oren Goltzer, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at Emory Johns Creek Hospital and assistant professor at Emory University School of Medicine. “Robotic-assisted surgery adds precision, accuracy, and consistency to the operating room,” Goltzer said. “The robot sets boundaries that help guide the surgeon’s movements during surgery. It won’t allow cuts outside the planned area, which enhances accuracy and protects nearby soft tissues.”
Robotic-arm assisted orthopedic surgery, including procedures for knee and hip replacements, is available at Mayo Clinic campuses in Arizona, Florida, and Rochester, Minnesota. During these procedures, surgeons replace damaged bone and cartilage with artificial components made of metal alloys, high-grade plastics, and polymers. Similar robotic systems are also utilized at NYU Langone Health and Penn Medicine for hip and knee replacement procedures.
The use of robotic technology in knee replacement surgery is intended to improve patient outcomes by reducing pain and accelerating recovery times. According to Penn Medicine, the robotic procedure assists surgeons in guiding surgical cuts and implant alignment, mirroring traditional knee replacement surgery but with enhanced precision. NYU Langone orthopedic surgeons specialize in robotic and computer-assisted surgical techniques, combining these tools with evidence-based pain management and rapid recovery protocols.
Robotic hip replacement surgery is being used to treat a range of conditions, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, developmental hip dysplasia, and hip impingement syndrome. Surgeons emphasize that precise surgical technique, limiting soft tissue damage, is key to a rapid recovery. The robotic systems allow for accurate bone surface preparation and customized biomechanical restoration of the hip, ensuring proper alignment of replacement parts, which varies for each patient. Hip replacement surgery involves removing damaged bone and cartilage and replacing it with synthetic materials, a process that can affect limb length.
Laura, a 77-year-old patient at Emory Johns Creek Hospital, recently underwent two knee replacements utilizing the robotic-assisted technology. She reported a positive experience and is now resuming physical activities. “I don’t plan to gradual down anytime soon,” she said. “My Emory Healthcare team was wonderful.”
Total knee replacement is a common procedure, with over 700,000 performed annually in the U.S., according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The increasing adoption of robotic-assisted technology reflects a growing emphasis on precision and improved patient outcomes in orthopedic surgery.
