Patellar instability: Traditional surgical interventions and a robotic approach

Nowadays, knee complications are a common problem that can make it difficult for people to walk. One of these complications is patellar instability that can lead to recurrent patellar dislocations due to a morphological abnormality in patellofemoral joint. Due to all implications that this pathology may have for the affected person it is mandatory to treat it in order to improve the quality of life of these people. There are two principal surgeries that could be performed to treat patellar instability, depending on the severity and on the cause: trochleoplasty and tibial tubercle osteotomy. A description of the workflow of these surgeries will be presented, describing all steps and the instruments used. The main purpose of this article is to make a survey of the robotic systems that could be adapted to these interventions. This is a first approach to the application of robotic systems on these interventions. Research shows that this field of orthopedic surgery has a great potential to be improved using robotic systems. With a well-planned surgery and the development in the field of surgical robotics the duration of the surgery can be shorter as well as obtain a better result since there are precise instruments and procedures that could be adapted to perform these interventions.