On World Arthritis Day, we are reminded of over 40 million people in Europe, who live with osteoarthritis (OA), a condition affecting 15% of the global population over the age of 30. In France, for example, it is the second-leading reason for medical consultations, after cardiovascular conditions.
As life expectancy increases, the burden of osteoarthritis (OA) also escalates, presenting challenges for individuals and economies alike. Patients suffer from limited ability to perform simple everyday activities. For many of them, mobility is not just about movement—it’s about independence, well-being, returning to the activities and communities they love.
For economies, adaptive aids and devices, medicines, surgery, and time off work cost governments billions annually and can account for up to 2.5% of GNP in direct and indirect costs. As reported by the European Parliament, approximately 60% of sickness absences in Europe are linked to rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders, including OA.
Fortunately, orthopaedic industry steps in, offering solutions that help improve quality of lives and alleviates the economic burden on society.
Knee Arthroplasty to Restore Mobility
For patients with severe OA, total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is often the most effective treatment. Not surprisingly, the growing number of OA patients reflects in the surging demand for TKA: the procedure is projected to grow by up to 189% by 2030, making it one of the fastest-growing surgeries worldwide.
However, despite the effectiveness of TKA, up to 20% of patients experience dissatisfaction after surgery, often due to residual pain or stiffness. To address this, the industry is focusing on more precise, patient-specific approaches that help improve outcomes and recovery times, ensuring patients can return to normal life as quickly as possible.
The Role of Robotics in Knee Procedures
In Knee surgeries, alternative alignments, robotic technologies and data-driven solutions have been “the talk of the town” over the past couple of years. Recent advancements bring truly revolutionary change, improving the accuracy of procedures and enhancing patient outcomes. Thanks to these innovations surgeons can plan and execute surgeries with greater control, which leads to more accurate implant positioning, better balance of the knee and fewer compromises on critical soft tissue structures.
Patients who undergo robotic-assisted TKA benefit from significant improvements. Research shows they experience 43% lower pain scores post-surgery compared to traditional methods and enjoy a 14% reduction in hospital stays—with many discharged on the day of surgery. Additionally, these procedures result in a 33% reduction in readmission rates within 90 days, further improving long-term outcomes and reducing complications.
Another sign of industry evolution is that robotics expands access to previously complex surgeries, such as partial knee replacements, allowing more patients to benefit from tissue-sparing techniques that preserve natural knee movement, improve recovery times and enhance quality of life.
Keeping People Moving
For patients, the goal is simple: regain mobility and return to their lives in a fast and safe way. Thankfully, the knee replacement innovation spins the wheel of care to make this a reality. Reduced pain and quicker recovery times mean that patients can return to work, family life, and hobbies sooner than ever before. I believe the whole orthopaedics community is proud to be living in these breakthrough times: we work hard to address the global burden of arthritis, giving patients the chance to regain one of the most fundamental aspects of their lives: movement.
