We Need to Talk About the Robot in the Room: Orthopaedics

Authors

  • Z Mohammed Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
  • C Khatri Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
  • H Searle Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
  • A Metcalfe Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
  • E T Davis The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62463/surgery.279

Keywords:

Robortics, Orthopaedics, Orthopedics, lower limb arthroplasty, technology, Surgical technique, Surgical Outcomes, Trials

Abstract

Orthopaedics has grappled with robotics for three decades. One of its first major ventures, ROBODOC (Curexo Technology Corp, South Korea, 1992), was an ‘active’ robotic system designed to autonomously execute bone cuts required for arthroplasty. Concerns over safety, workflow, and a lack of intraoperative flexibility limited its widespread adoption. It was superseded by TSolution One (THINK Surgical, USA) in 2014, adding improved CT-based planning, enhanced registration, and safeguards against soft-tissue injury. It remains the only autonomous robotic system available today. Yet, whether robotics in orthopaedics ultimately offers improvements in clinical or cost effectiveness remains uncertain. Adoption has often outpaced evidence, and only now are large-scale RCTs, such as the RACER trials, underway to assess the value of robotics in arthroplasty.

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Author Biographies

Z Mohammed, Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

Academic Foundation Doctor; Trauma and Orthopaedics, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, UK

C Khatri, Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

Orthopaedic Registrar, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, UK

H Searle, Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

Orthopaedic Registrar, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, UK

A Metcalfe, Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon & Professor of Trauma and Orthopaedics

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, UK

E T Davis, The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Consultant Arthroplasty Surgeon and Clinical Service Lead for Arthroplasty Head of Undergraduate Academy and Honorary Professor at The University of Birmingham

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Published

30-11-2025

How to Cite

Mohammed, Z., Khatri, C., Searle, H., Metcalfe, A., & Davis, E. (2025). We Need to Talk About the Robot in the Room: Orthopaedics. Impact Surgery, 2(7), 233–235. https://doi.org/10.62463/surgery.279

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 7 (2025): Issue 13: Robotic Surgery Special

Section

Editorial

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Impact Surgery

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