Use Of Robotic Technology In Cam Femoroacetabular Impingement Corrective Surgery

Background Cam type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is an anatomical disorder that can lead to osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip joint. With existing surgical options there is invariably a tendency for under-resection or over-resection of the cam lesion, both having dire consequences. This study assessed the application of robotic technology in the surgical management of cam FAI. Methods Three different dry-bone femur models (14 in each) with severe cam deformity underwent corrective surgery using a haptic robot with active constraints. The post surgery', models were CT scanned and 3-D alpha angles and head/neck ratios (HNRs) were compared with pre-operative plans. Results In all models, the robotic resection resulted in a measured reduction of the maximum alpha angle to an angle indicative of no clinical impingement (first model 91 degrees vs 49 degrees +/- 3 degrees, second 91 degrees vs 55 degrees +/- 5 degrees, and third 87 degrees vs 47 degrees +/- 2 degrees P<0.001). Similarly, the HNRs for all models reduced substantially following resection surgery. Conclusions This dry bone study validates the use of robotic technology to perform cam FAI corrective surgery. A more accurate bony resection may minimize complications due to over- and under-resection. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.