IMPACT OF ROBOTIC-ASSISTED ORTHOPAEDIC PROCEDURES ON SURGICAL SITE INFECTIONS AND PROSTHETIC JOINT INFECTIONS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

G. D'Andrea¹, M. Alessio-Mazzola² , M. Conca², G. Placella¹ , S. Mosca¹ , V. Salini¹

¹ Vita-Salute University, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
² IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy

Correspondence to:

Journal of Orthopedics 2025 January-April; 17(1): Ahead of Print
https://doi.org/10.69149/orthopedics/2025v17iss1_5

Received: 30 January 2025 Accepted: 2 March 2025

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Abstract

Robotic-assisted technology in orthopedic surgery has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential to improve surgical precision and patient outcomes. However, concerns have been raised regarding prolonged operative times, increased surgical site complexity, and the potential impact on rates of surgical site infections (SSIs) and prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). Understanding this relationship is essential for optimizing surgical outcomes and clinical decision-making. This systematic review aims to investigate whether robotic-assisted orthopedic procedures increase the risk of subsequent SSIs or PJIs. Comprehensive research was conducted on PubMed, EMBASE, and other databases according to PRISMA guidelines. A total of 69 studies were included in the review. The results indicate no significant difference in SSI/PJI rates between robotic-assisted and conventional techniques, although factors such as prolonged operative times, increased operating room traffic, and additional equipment may temporarily elevate risks during the learning curve. Further long-term, high-quality studies are required to confirm these findings.

Keywords: prosthetic joint infections, robotic-assisted orthopedic surgery, robotic-assisted technology, surgical site infections