Knee Cartilage Replacement Surgery: Conventional vs Robotic Approach

Knee joints have a natural cartilage cushion that allows smooth movement and absorbs shock. Over time, this cartilage wears down due to age, wear-and-tear, or injury, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Unfortunately, cartilage cannot regenerate naturally, and medications or supplements provide limited relief. In advanced cases, joint replacement surgery becomes necessary.

How Cartilage Degeneration Affects the Knee

• Healthy cartilage is smooth and blue, acting as a cushion between bones.
• With age or excessive stress, cartilage wears down, leading to bone-on-bone friction.
• Patients experience pain, swelling, stiffness, and difficulty in walking or performing daily activities.

Since the cartilage cannot be naturally restored, surgical intervention is the only solution to relieve pain and restore function.

Conventional Knee Replacement Surgery

Conventional total knee replacement has been performed for decades and involves:

• Cutting bone to fit metal components
• Removing or altering ligaments
• Extensive rehabilitation due to significant tissue disruption

Challenges with Conventional Surgery:

• Recovery is often painful and longer
• Functional outcome averages 75–78% success globally
• Postoperative rehabilitation requires weeks to months for full mobility

While effective, this method is more invasive and disrupts natural knee structures.

Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacement Surgery

Robotic surgery is a modern, minimally invasive approach that targets only the worn-out surface of the knee:

How It Works:

• Mapping the knee surface using sensors
• Replacing only the damaged cartilage surface
• Preserving natural bone and ligaments
• Using high-density polyethylene and a cap component attached with bone cement

Advantages:

• Minimal bone cutting – natural bone remains intact
• Ligaments are preserved – knee stability maintained
• Shorter surgery time – approximately 20–25 minutes per knee
• Faster recovery – patients can walk the next day

Robotic surgery combines precision, safety, and faster rehabilitation, providing excellent outcomes for patients with advanced cartilage wear.

Postoperative Recovery

• Walking begins immediately after surgery, often the next day
• Pain is significantly less compared to conventional surgery
• Physical therapy focuses on strength, mobility, and flexibility
• Patients can resume normal daily activities sooner