title: Results of total hip replacement using the Robodoc surgical assistant system: clinical outcome and evaluation of complications for 97 procedures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A computerized robotic surgical system was developed from 1986 by the Thomas J. Watson Research Center. In 1992 the system unit Orthodoc and the milling robot Robodoc were first used on humans. We present the results achieved with Robodoc-assisted total hip arthroplasty in 97 hips.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1997 and 2002, 143 total hip replacements (128 patients) were performed using the Robodoc system. This is a consecutive series. Complete follow-up was possible in 97 hips at a mean follow-up period of 3.8 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Technical complications directly related to the robotic device occurred in nine cases (9.3%). The pre-operative Merle d'Aubigne score was determined at 8.1 points compared to a post-operative mean score of 16.2. There was no sign of femoral stem loosening on radiographs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty with the Orthodoc/ Robodoc system achieves equal results as compared to a manual technique. However, there was a high number of technical complications directly or indirectly related to the robot.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, BG Trauma Hospital, Hamburg, Germany. Robodoc@apschulz.de
authors.forename: Arndt P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seide
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Queitsch
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: von Haugwitz
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meiners
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kienast
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tarabolsi
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kammal
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jürgens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome