The integration of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) in orthopaedic surgeries has been expanding rapidly.
In Europe and especially in the United States, revenue from AI in healthcare is booming. But is robot-assisted surgery currently a better option than more traditional methods? And what is the cost for the patient? Here, Dr. Sarunas Tarasevicius, a surgeon at Nordorthopaedic Clinic in Kaunas, Lithuania, explains the current reality of AI in surgery, and discusses what the future may hold for this growing sector.
Artificial intelligence and robotics are revolutionising surgery, including orthopaedic surgery. Globally, the market size of AI-based surgical robots measured US$6.4 billion in 2022. That same year, 22% of surgical procedures in the US were carried out using robotic technology. However, when it comes to effectiveness and precision, the jury is still out. A study at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons meeting in February 2024 found that patients who received robot-assisted knee replacements were as likely to need revision surgery within two years as those who received manual surgery. So is robotic-assisted surgery the future of orthopaedics, or just a costly distraction?
Experience matters
Of course, AI-driven surgery can be of value. This is particularly true if the surgeon is less experienced. According to Dr. Tarasevicius, the benefit of robotics and AI is limited for an experienced surgeon, who already knows how to make precise cuts, radiological measurements, and balance ligaments without AI assistance.
However, robotics can help less-experienced surgeons perform these actions more accurately. AI, he says, is