Evaluating AI Robotic/Robotic-Assisted Surgical Approaches vs. Traditional Surgical Approaches for Osteoarthritis: A Critical Review

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading form of arthritis that significantly impacts individuals' quality of life and places an immense burden on healthcare systems globally. Traditional management strategies often fall short in addressing the disease's underlying pathophysiology. The emergence of robotic-assisted surgical techniques offers a promising avenue for enhancing both surgical precision and patient outcomes. Notably, AI-assisted robotics has the potential to bridge significant gaps in current surgical practices, such as personalized planning and intraoperative adjustments. This review critically analyzes the comparative efficacy of robotic-assisted techniques versus traditional methods in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and discusses the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in optimizing surgical outcomes. While early findings suggest improved postoperative performance and reduced length of hospital stays, significant challenges, including the generalizability of current algorithms and their integration into clinical practice, remain. This paper highlights the necessity for further research to solidify these technologies' role in future OA management.