ObjectiveTo evaluate the early effectiveness of the robot-assisted total hip arthroplasty (THA) via direct superior approach (DSA).MethodsBetween March 2021 and April 2021, 11 patients (11 hips) were treated with a robot-assisted THA via DSA. There were 7 males and 4 females, with an average age of 55 years (range, 26-73 years). There were 5 patients of osteoarthritis secondary to hip dysplasia and 6 patients of osteonecrosis of femoral head. Preoperative hip Harris score was 55.8±6.3. The operation time, volume of blood loss, length of incision, postoperative blood transfusion and hospital stay, and the incidence of surgical complications were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Harris score were used to evaluate hip joint pain and function. The leg length discrepancy (LLD) was measured on the X-ray films. The inclination angle and anteversion angle of the acetabular component were also measured, and the difference between the planned and actual values were compared.ResultsOne THA was performed via conventional posterolateral approach finally because of poor exposure. The rest of 10 THAs were performed with assistance of robotic arm via DSA. The average operation time was 89 minutes (range, 65-120 minutes); the average length of incision was 10.5 cm (range, 9-13 cm); and the average blood loss was 400 mL (range, 110-740 mL). One patient was given a blood transfusion for 2 unit. All incisions healed by first intention and no neurovascular injury, deep vein thrombosis, or fracture occurred. The length of hospital stay after operation was 2-6 days (mean, 4.4 days). The duration of follow-up was 1-3 months (mean, 2.1 months). The VAS score was 0 in 9 patients and 2 in 1 patient at the day of discharge. At last follow-up, the hip Harris score was 84.9±6.7, showing significant difference when compared with that before operation (t=−8.717, P=0.000). The inclination and anteversion angles were (37.4±2.0)° and (17.1±4.5)°, respectively, and there was no significant difference when compared with the planned values [(38.2±1.6)°, (16.6±3.7)°] (t=1.809, P=0.104; t=–1.103, P=0.299). The LLD ranged from –2 to 4 mm. No complication such as dislocation, aseptic loosening, or periprosthetic joint infection occurred. ConclusionThe robot-assisted THA via DSA has encouraged early effectiveness.
Objective To explore effectiveness of TiRobot-assisted screw implantation in the treatment of coracoid process fractures of the scapula. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data from 24 patients with coracoid process fractures of the scapula admitted between September 2019 and January 2024 and met selection criteria. Among them, 12 patients underwent TiRobot-assisted screw implantation (robot group) and 12 underwent manual screw implantation (control group) during internal fixation. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in baseline data such as gender, age, body mass index, disease duration, cause of injury, coracoid process fracture classification, and proportion of patients with associated injuries between the two groups. The incision length, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, accuracy of screw placement, coracoid process fracture healing time, and complications were recorded and compared, as well as pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and Constant-Murley score at last follow-up. ResultsThe intraoperative blood loss and incision length in the robot group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05); however, there was no significant difference in operation time and hospital stay between the two groups (P>0.05). All patients were followed up 8-27 months (mean, 17.5 months), and the difference in follow-up time between the two groups was not significant (P>0.05). At last follow-up, the VAS score for shoulder pain in the robot group was signifncatly lower compared to the control group, and the Constant-Murley score was significantly higher (P<0.05). In the robot group, 16 screws were implanted intraoperatively, while 13 screws were implanted in the control group. Radiographic re-evaluation showed that the excellent and good rate of screw implantation was higher in the robot group (93.8%, 15/16) than in the control group (61.5%, 8/13), but the difference in the precision of screw implantation between the two groups was not significant (P>0.05). Four patients in the robot group and 1 in the control group achieved double screws fixation; however, the difference in achieving double screws fixation between the two groups was not significant (P>0.05). All fractures healed in both groups with 1 case of malunion in the control group. There was no significant difference in healing time between the two groups (P>0.05). During follow-up, 1 patient in the control group experienced screw loosening and displacement. There was no significant difference in the incidence of screw loosening and fracture malunion between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Compared with manual screw implantation, TiRobot-assisted minimally invasive treatment of coracoid process fractures of the scapula can reduce intraoperative blood loss, shorten incision length, alleviate pain, and obtain better promote shoulder joint functional recovery.
ObjectiveTo analyze the risk factors for complications after robotic segmentectomy.MethodsClinical data of 207 patients undergoing robot-assisted anatomical segmentectomy in our hospital from June 2015 to July 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, including 69 males and 138 females with a median age of 54.0 years. The relationship between clinicopathological factors and prolonged air leakage, pleural effusion, and pulmonary infection after surgery was analyzed.ResultsAfter robot-assisted segmentectomy, 20 (9.7%) patients developed prolonged air leakage (>5 d), 17 (8.2%) patients developed pleural effusion, and 4 (1.9%) patients developed pulmonary infection. Univariate logistic regression showed that body mass index (BMI, P=0.018), FEV1% (P=0.024), number of N1 lymph nodes resection (P=0.008) were related to prolonged air leakage after robot-assisted segmentectomy. Benign lesion was a risk factor for pleural effusion (P=0.013). The number of lymph node sampling stations was significantly related to the incidence of pulmonary infection (P=0.035). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that the BMI (OR=0.73, P=0.012) and N1 lymph node sampling (OR=1.38, P=0.001) had a negative and positive relationship with prolonged air leakage after robot-assisted segmentectomy, respectively.ConclusionThe incidence of pulmonary complications after robot-assisted segmentectomy is low. The lower BMI and more N1 lymph node sampling is, the greater probability of prolonged air leakage is. Benign lesions and more lymph node sampling stations are risk factors for pleural effusion and lung infection, respectively. Attention should be paid to the prevention and treatment of perioperative complications for patients with such risk factors.
ObjectiveTo study the early out-of-bed activities of patients after Mako robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty.MethodsWe prospectively included inpatients planned to undergo primary unilateral total hip arthroplasty in the Department of Orthopaedics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from April to July 2020. Using a randomized numerical table, the patients were divided into trial group to undergo robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty and control group to undergo traditional total hip arthroplasty, and both groups received the same nursing measures and instructions for training to get out of bed after surgery. Postoperative active pain (assessed with Visual Analogue Scale), the proportion of patients willing to get out of bed within 24 h after surgery, the time and duration for the first out of bed activity, the proportion of patients with a walking distance ≥5 m for first activity, and the level of activity in the first 3 d after surgery between the two groups were compared.ResultsA total of 38 patients were included in this study, with 17 patients in the trial group and 21 patients in the control group. There was no statistical significance in the baseline demographics between the two groups (P>0.05). There were statistically significant differences in postoperative 6-hour and 24-hour Visual Analogue Scale scores between the two groups (P<0.05). Two hours after oral administration of perioperative energy preparations on the day of surgery, the proportion of patients who were willing to get out of bed early in the trial group was higher than that in the control group (100.0% vs. 57.1%, P<0.05). The first time to get out of bed ［(4.39±0.17) vs. (8.74±4.70) h］, the duration of getting out of bed ［(10.89±3.60) vs. (8.37±3.31) h］, and the proportion of patients with a walking distance ≥5 m for first activity (94.1% vs. 61.9%) were better than those of the control group (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences between the trial group and the control group in the average level in the first 3 days after surgery, postoperative first-day level, and postoperative second-day level of getting out of bed (P<0.05). There were no falls, dislocation of the prosthesis, fractures around the prosthesis, or deep vein thrombosis in the two groups of patients during their hospitalization.ConclusionThe precise surgery method with the help of Mako orthopedic robot-assisted system can help promote patients to get out of bed early after surgery, and can providea reference for how to improve the rehabilitation of patients after traditional total hip replacement in the future.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and effectiveness of robot-guided percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in treatment of multi-segmental thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).MethodsA clinical data of 63 cases with multi-segmental thoracolumbar OVCF without neurologic deficit treated with PKP between October 2017 and February 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into robot-guided group (33 cases) and traditional fluoroscopy group (30 cases). There was no significant difference in gender, age, fracture segment, bone mineral density, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, midline vertebral height, and Cobb angle between the two groups (P>0.05). The time to establish the tunnel, the times of fluoroscopy, the dose of fluoroscopy, the deviation of puncture, the distribution of bone cement, the leakage of bone cement, the puncture angle, and the postoperative VAS score, midline vertebral height, and Cobb angle were recorded and compared.ResultsThe patients in two groups were followed up 11-13 months (mean, 12 months). Compared with traditional fluoroscopy group, the time to establish the tunnel, the times and dose of fluoroscopy in robot-guided group were significantly lower, the deviation of puncture was slighter, the distribution of bone cement was better, and the puncture angle was larger, the differences between the two groups were significant (P<0.05). There were 8 segments (9.3%, 8/86) of bone leakage in robot-guided group and 17 segments (22.6%, 17/75) in traditional fluoroscopy group, the difference between the two groups was significant (χ2=5.455, P=0.020). There was no significant difference in VAS score, the midline vertebral height, and Cobb angle between the two groups at 2 days after operation and last follow-up (P>0.05).ConclusionRobot-guided PKP in treatment of multi-segmental thoracolumbar OVCF can shorten the operation time, improve the accuracy of puncture, reduce the times and dose of fluoroscopy, reduce the leakage of bone cement, and achieve better cement distribution.
Objective To conduct a systematic bibliometric analysis of recent research on robot-assisted orthopedic surgery, in order to reveal the research trends, hotspots, main contributors, and future development directions in this field. Methods On August 27, 2024, WoSCC (Web of Science Core Collection Database) was searched and relevant literature on robot-assisted orthopedic surgery from 2003 to 2023 was included. Excel 2016, VOSviewer (version 1.6.10), and CiteSpace (version 6.2.R6) were used for data collection and analysis. Results The total citation frequency of 1718 retrieved literature was 28978 times, with an average citation frequency of 16.87 times per article. The total citation frequency of articles in 2019 was the highest (4330 times), and the publication volume in 2023 was the highest (315 articles). Among the top 5 countries in terms of publication volume, the United States had the highest publication volume and total citation frequency, while China ranked second in terms of publication volume, but had the lowest average citation frequency per article. Analysis of cooperation between countries showed that the United States, China, Germany, and other countries had the most cooperation. Babar Kayani’s articles were cited the most frequently. Among the top 10 institutions in terms of publication volume, the Hospital for Special Surgery (United States) had the highest publication volume, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (United States) had the highest total citation frequency for publications, and the average citation frequency of each article published by the University of Pittsburgh (United States) was the highest. The dynamic evolution of research hotspots suggested that early research mainly focused on the combination of traditional surgical techniques and navigation, while in recent years, research had mainly focused on computer-aided surgery, augmented reality, and medical robotics technology. Conclusions In recent years, significant progress has been made in the research of robot-assisted orthopedic surgery, with the United States taking a leading position in this field and having extensive global cooperation. Research hotspots show that with the continuous development of computer-aided surgery, augmented reality, and robotics technology, the field of orthopedic surgery is evolving towards more precise, individualized, and minimally invasive directions.
ObjectiveTo explore the method of preventing heat steam induced skin damage in robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction (R-NSM-IBR) using Da Vinci Robots. Methods A clinical data of 128 female patients with breast cancer, who were treated with R-NSM-IBR between September 2022 and December 2023 and met the selection criteria, was retrospectively analyzed. During robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy, the breasts were covered with gauze cooled by ice water to reduce skin temperature in 99 cases (group A) and were not treated in 29 cases (group B). There was no significant difference in the age, affected side, body mass index, pathological type of breast cancer, and constituent ratios of adjuvant chemotherapy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy between the two groups (P>0.05). Intraoperative breast skin temperature, unilateral robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy time, and the incidence of complications of breast heat steam induced skin damage were recorded. Results The time for unilateral robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy was (77.18±9.23) minutes in group A and (76.38±12.88) minutes in group B, with significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The intraoperative breast skin temperature was significantly lower in group A than in group B [(25.61±0.91)℃ vs (33.38±1.14)℃; P<0.05]. Seven cases of heat steam skin damage occurred during operation, including 2 cases (2.0%) in group A and 5 cases (17.2%) in group B, with a significant difference in incidence between the two groups (P<0.05). Among them, 1 patient in group B had a vesication rupture and infection, which eventually led to the removal of the implant; the rest of the patients were treated with postoperative interventions for skin recovery. Conclusion The use of breast covered with gauze cooled by ice water during R-NSM-IBR can effectively reduce the risk of heat steam induced skin damage.
Surgery has played an important role in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Resection is usually the first choice for NSCLC patients in stage Ⅰ and stage Ⅱ, and it is also an important part of the comprehensive treatment for the stage ⅢA patients. Standard surgery of NSCLC includes resection of the primary tumor lesion and swee-ping of ipsilateral lymph nodes and mediastinal lymph nodes. The goal of treatment for lung cancer in early stage aims to decrease the rate of recurrence and mortality. In recent years, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and da Vinci robotic minimal invasive surgery have made gratifying achievements, especially for small peripheral lung nodules surgery. For patients with NSCLC at stage ⅢA, the central focus of research is about identifying patients who will benefit in the surgery combining with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, therefore to choose the appropriate surgery.
Objective To analyze the impact of robot assistance on the restoration of limb length and offset distance in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 316 patients who underwent unilateral primary THA between September 2019 and August 2023. Among them, 117 patients underwent robot-assisted THA (group A), and 199 patients underwent conventional THA (group B). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the gender, age, or side of the hip replacement (P>0.05); but there was a significant difference in the preoperative diagnosis (P<0.05). The leg length discrepancy (LLD) and global offset (GO) dfference were measured on preoperative anteroposterior pelvic X-ray films, and absolute values were used for comparison between groups. Results The operations in both groups were successfully completed. Postoperative imaging measurements showed that the LLD and GO dfference in group A were significantly lower than those in group B (P<0.05). Among them, group A had 32 cases (27.4%), 5 cases (4.3%), and 0 case (0) of LLD>3 mm, >5 mm, and >10 mm, respectively, while group B had 115 cases (57.8%), 75 cases (37.7%), and 22 cases (11.1%), respectively; and the differences in above indicators between groups were significant (P<0.05). Group A had 40 cases (34.2%), 3 cases (2.6%), and 0 case (0) of GO dfference>5 mm, >10 mm, and >20 mm, respectively; group B had 103 cases (51.8%), 54 cases (27.1%), and 7 cases (3.5%), respectively. There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with GO>20 mm between groups (P>0.05), while there were significant differences in other indicators between groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Compared with traditional THA, robot assisted THA has more advantages in restoration of limb length and offset distance.
In recent years, robot-assisted esophagectomy has become increasingly widespread, but the esophagogastric anastomosis step remains relatively complex and cumbersome. Currently, commonly used gastrointestinal reconstruction anastomosis techniques include end-to-end anastomosis, end-to-side anastomosis, and side-to-side anastomosis. Depending on the anastomosis method, they can be further divided into manual anastomosis and mechanical anastomosis, with common instruments including circular staplers and linear staplers. In esophageal cancer surgery, the choice of esophagogastric anastomosis technique is typically based on the tumor’s location and size as well as the surgeon’s preference. Each anastomosis technique has its advantages and disadvantages. With continuous improvements in anastomosis techniques and updates in stapling instruments, the incidence of complications after esophagogastric anastomosis has been effectively reduced. However, safely and efficiently completing gastrointestinal reconstruction during surgery remains a significant challenge. Scholars have made extensive explorations in this field, actively proposing and achieving various reconstruction methods, leading to significant progress. This article reviews the research progress of robot-assisted esophagogastric anastomosis techniques from both the anastomosis techniques and methods perspectives.