Clinical Updates | Technical Insights

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[March 2026] Precision in Surgery: Why We Choose Robotics Over Navigation

When we discuss "accuracy" in knee replacement, it is important to distinguish between tools that assist a surgeon and tools that redefine the procedure. Since the early 2000s, Computer-Assisted Navigation was the primary method for improving alignment. However, the data has shown that for Total Knee Replacements (TKR), navigation didn't offer a significant advantage in how long a joint lasts or how it feels for the patient.

Today, we utilize Robotic-Arm Assistance, but with a specific focus: Partial (Unicompartmental) Knee Replacements. Unlike the older navigation systems, the robot allows for a "sub-millimeter inlay." This means we can save your natural ligaments (ACL and PCL), keeping the knee feeling like your own rather than a mechanical substitute.

The Takeaway: We don't use technology for the sake of "marketing." We use it where the data proves it makes your recovery faster and your joint more natural. For a full replacement, a skilled manual technique is often superior; for a partial replacement, the robot is essential.