The Robots are Coming!

Dear CSS Members and Colleagues:

This year the Annual CSS meeting will consider the impact of technology on shoulder surgery. In keeping with this theme I offer you some insight into the value proposition for robots in the orthopedic operating room. This comes from a post to LinkedIN which I thought I would share here.

Robots are expensive! But if we measure the value to patients then Value = Outcome/Cost. If then we consider learning curves and experts vs low volume surgeons, the analysis becomes more convincing. Robots reduce variation from the mean when measuring outcomes. In so doing, it is conceivable that the learning curve effect is mitigated for our patients. In other words, the strategy we have may be executed more consistently thus mitigating the potential for error of the less experienced operator. Consider this thoughtful article in this context.

Kind Regards,

JP Warner, MD

Founder, CSS