Innovation comes in many forms — some of them high-tech and sexy and others not as flashy. Harnessing innovation in a myriad of ways to improve patient outcomes and reduce complications is essential for successful orthopaedic surgery.
Endeavor Health orthopaedic surgeon Anand Srinivasan, MD, an expert in joint replacement, breaks down some of the latest innovations that continue to push boundaries and enhance patient care.
Robotic technology
“Robotics is still the biggest advancement in joint replacement surgery and continues to play a large role in our ability to more accurately place implants for a patients’ individual anatomy,” said Dr. Srinivasan. While robotic technology has been used in hip and knee replacements for years, it is only more recently available for shoulder replacement procedures.
The Endeavor Health Orthopaedic & Spine Institute is continuing to enhance the use of robotics by thorough data collection. The data collected on procedures is then analyzed to drive future refinements in surgical procedures, explained Dr. Srinivasan.
Improvements in recovery care
Postoperative protocols also play a significant role in overall patient satisfaction and long-term outcomes. Innovation in terms of more comprehensive patient education and multidisciplinary care are among the factors leading to more efficient and effective recoveries.
“We [are] developing protocols to help appropriate patients go home in a safe manner after surgery,” said Dr. Srinivasan. Conversations with surgeons and other clinicians help determine each patient’s motivation, support system and current activity level to find the right candidates for same-day discharge.
It starts before surgery, when we send patients to physical therapy (PT) for a preoperative assessment and often prescribe therapy for strength and mobility as a pre-hab course before surgery. As a result, more patients are able to return home the day of surgery and begin recovery with home PT, said Dr. Srinivasan.
Ongoing education with therapy team members is also critical for optimal recovery. Some patients are able to skip the home health process and go straight to outpatient PT for rehab.Artificial intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence is still in the early stages in terms of use in medicine and specifically orthopaedics, and most applications are related to outpatient care, explained Dr. Srinivasan. In certain settings, AI tools are being used to record conversations with patients for ease in updating patient charts and summarizing the visit.
“Tools to use AI are being actively researched and vetted here as we look for the best ways to help patients and clinicians navigate optimal care,” added Dr. Srinivasan.
