ROBODOC - A way to the future in hip endoprosthesis or a unnecessary investment?

The Orthopaedic Department of Martin-Luther-University has been using compu ter-guided, robot-assisted surgery in cementless total hip arthroplasty sin ce lune 1997. The goal of the present paper is to critically evaluate the a dvantages and disadvantages of the ROBODOC system when using two different femoral components and the employment of the system in orthopaedics in gene ral. Method: Between lune 1997 and August 1999 87 procedures have been perf ormed using the ROBODOC system. 48 ABG stems and 39 OSTEOLOC stems manufact ured by HOWMEDICA were used. The results are based on a prospective study. Results: The main advantage of the system is the excellent three-dimensiona l preoperative planning and the precise execution of the preoperative plan during surgery. problematic situations of the proximal femur can be evaluat ed and the optimal position of the femoral component can be guaranteed. Inv estigations on cadaver femurs showed significant differences in the bone-im plant contact. The first results let us expect some advantage in congenital and acquired femoral deformities. Conclusion: The ROBO-DOC system has to b e critically considered as an alternative to hand implantation. In our opin ion, it should be used only under certain circumstances considering the cur rent technical progress. Only in these cases the potential of the system ca n be used beneficially.