Precision-driven surgery designed to improve outcomes, recovery, and implant longevity

 

Robotic-assisted joint replacement is an advanced surgical technique that allows for highly precise, personalized implant placement during knee and hip replacement surgery.

 

Dr. Ryan Cone specializes in robotic-assisted joint replacement in Atlanta, using advanced technology to improve accuracy, optimize alignment, and support faster recovery.

 

By combining robotic precision with modern, muscle-preserving techniques, his approach is designed to help patients return to normal activity as quickly and safely as possible.

 

What is Robotic-Assisted Surgery?

 

Robotic-assisted surgery does not mean a robot performs the operation. The surgeon remains fully in control at all times.

Instead, robotic technology provides enhanced precision, real-time feedback, and personalized planning based on your unique anatomy. This technology allows to:

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• Create a personalized surgical plan.

• Place the implant with improved accuracy.

• Adjust the plan during surgery as needed.

 

1. Planning and visualization: A preoperative CT scan of your knee is loaded into the software to create a 3D model, which helps us create an exact plan for how much bone to remove and where to position the metal implants. The model appears on a monitor during the surgery, and using technology called arrays, we create constant landmarks on the femur and tibia and register the actual bone with the virtual model. Therefore, when we move and flex the leg during surgery, the landmarks stay constant, and the robot continues to “see” the leg.

The surgeon operates the robotic arm.

 

2. Personalized adjustments: Using the 3D software, we can make micro-adjustments to the planned bone cuts – something the naked eye couldn’t see – to achieve a perfectly balanced knee.

 

3. Safety and precision: The robotic arm and preoperative plan are synced up, and the arthritic portions of the bone appear as a green field on the 3D model. Guiding the robotic arm, the surgeon removes the arthritic bone. Haptic technology, which is highly sensitive to touch, ensures the surgeon only removes the designated area, virtually eliminating the risk of damaging healthy bone, ligaments, and other surrounding tissue.

Arthritic bone slated for removal is in green.

 

4. Pinpoint positioning: During the procedure, we test the implants for size, position, and rotation before making them permanent. The Mako robot provides precise coordinates for the implant and can confirm that the gaps on the inside and outside of the knee remain the same throughout the arc of motion. The result will eventually be a knee that moves seamlessly with appropriate balance.

 

Benefits of Robotic Assisted joint replacement:

 

Robotic-assisted surgery allows for a level of precision and personalization that is difficult to achieve with traditional techniques alone.

Patients may benefit from:

• More accurate implant positioning

• Improved alignment and joint balance

• Less trauma to surrounding tissues

• Reduced postoperative pain

• Faster recovery and return to activity

• Potential for longer-lasting implant performance

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These advantages are driven by the ability to customize the procedure to each patient’s anatomy and make real-time adjustments during surgery.

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Robotic-Assisted vs Traditional Joint Replacement:

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Traditional joint replacement relies on manual instruments and often a "one-sized fits all approach" to knee replacement. 

Robotic-assisted surgery enhances this process by using 3D imaging and real-time data to guide implant placement with a high level of precision. Most importantly, this technology allows for personalization of implant position based on each patients individual anatomy.  This may result in:

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• More consistent implant positioning

• More natural feeling knee

• Improved joint balance

• Reduced variability during surgery

 

While both approaches are highly effective, robotic-assisted surgery offers an added layer of precision that may improve early recovery and long-term outcomes. 

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Robotic Surgery + Muscle-Sparing Techniques:

 

In many cases, robotic-assisted surgery can be combined with muscle-preserving techniques, including quadriceps-sparing knee replacement.

 

This combination allows for both:

• Precision in implant positioning

• Preservation of muscle and soft tissue

 

Together, this approach is designed to:

• Reduce pain after surgery

• Support faster recovery

• Improve early mobility and function

 

This is a key part of Dr. Cone’s surgical philosophy—combining advanced technology with techniques that minimize disruption to the body.

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Learn more about quadriceps-sparing knee replacement

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Frequently Asked Questions:

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Is robotic knee replacement better than traditional?

 

a: Robotic-assisted surgery offers improved precision and consistency, which may improve outcomes in certain patients.

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Does a robot perform the surgery?

a: No—the surgeon is always in full control. The robot assists with guidance and precision.

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Is recovery faster?

 

a: Many patients experience faster early recovery and improved mobility.

Is robotic surgery safer? It provides additional safeguards through real-time feedback and controlled precision.

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Conclusion

Robotic-assisted knee replacement is an exciting advancement that can offer patients a more personalized procedure, with potential benefits in precision, recovery, and comfort. Talk with Dr. Cone to see if this technology is the right choice for you.

 

Schedule a Consultation 

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If you are considering knee or hip replacement and are interested in a more precise, personalized surgical approach, a consultation can help determine whether robotic-assisted joint replacement is right for you.

 

Dr. Ryan Cone is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement in Atlanta.

He is fellowship-trained in advanced joint reconstruction and uses robotic technology to enhance precision and personalize each procedure.

His approach emphasizes:

• Robotic-assisted precision

• Muscle-preserving techniques

• Individualized surgical planning

His goal is to help patients recover faster, move more naturally, and return to the activities they enjoy.

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References

1. Marchand, R. C., Sodhi, N., Anis, H. K., Ehiorobo, J. O., Newman, J. M., & Mont, M. A. (2019). One-year patient outcomes for robotic-arm-assisted versus manual total knee arthroplasty. Journal of Knee Surgery, 32(11), 1063–1068.

2. Kayani, B., Konan, S., Huq, S. S., Tahmassebi, J., & Haddad, F. S. (2018). Robotic-arm assisted total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Arthroplasty, 33(7), 1999–2006.

3. Kort, N. P., van der Graaff, J., & Schotanus, M. G. (2019). Robotic-assisted knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Orthopaedica, 90(6), 566–571.

4. Clement, N. D., MacDonald, D., Hamilton, D. F., Burnett, R., & Patton, J. T. (2021). Robotic arm-assisted versus conventional unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: Early functional outcomes and gait analysis. Bone & Joint Journal, 103-B(7), 1130–1137.