This short Q&A panel discussion features orthopedic surgeons discussing the clinical use and adoption of 3D planning, navigation, and robotics in shoulder arthroplasty
- Case Planning vs. Guides: The first panelist explains that they plan every single surgical case beforehand, but only use Patient-Specific Instrumentation (PSI) guides in about 10% of cases due to manufacturing delays and costs. They highlight navigation solutions as currently highly effective because they allow the surgeon to actively rim, rotate, and place screws rather than just finding the axis
- The Rise of Robotics: While expensive, robotics are gaining traction. One of the speakers notes that robot-assisted surgeries have heavily taken over hip and knee arthroplasty at their institution. However, robots can sometimes slow down the surgical flow, raising questions about how they will fit into high-volume shoulder practices
- Value for Lower-Volume Surgeons: The panelists suggest that the real value of advanced technology, like robotics and navigation, might actually be for lower-volume orthopedic surgeons (those who aren't performing 100 to 200 shoulder surgeries a year) to help improve accuracy and standardize outcomes
