A 70-year-old woman, Ms. Lin, who suffered from severe knee osteoarthritis that disrupted her daily life, sought treatment at China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) in early April 2022. Accompanied by her daughter, she was evaluated by Dr. Chih-Hung Hung, Director of the Artificial Joint Division in the Department of Orthopedics. Dr. Hung recommended the ROSA robotic arm-assisted joint replacement surgery, which Ms. Lin underwent in late April. She recovered well and was able to return home just two days after the operation.

Dr. Hung explained that human joints naturally wear out over time due to age, physical activity, and weight-bearing. Once cartilage is completely worn away, it causes pain, especially in the hip and knee joints, which bear most of the body’s weight. In elderly patients, joint arthritis often leads to reduced mobility, which can result in complications such as bed rest, osteoporosis, dementia, and dependency on caregivers. This not only diminishes quality of life but also increases the caregiving burden on family members. For patients with severe joint damage, joint replacement surgery is an effective treatment that significantly alleviates pain and reduces the need for medications, thereby lowering the strain on the liver and kidneys.

 In traditional joint replacement surgery, measuring the femoral angle requires disrupting the femoral bone marrow canal to insert a guide rod, which can increase the risk of fat embolism and postoperative bleeding. While joint replacement surgery can effectively relieve pain, studies show that around 20% of patients still experience discomfort, such as stiffness or a foreign body sensation, after surgery. Achieving precise bone cutting during surgery is critical to determining the placement of the artificial joint, correcting the lower limb alignment, and balancing the body's center of gravity. This precision is especially important in robotic-assisted procedures like the ROSA robotic arm-assisted joint replacement, which minimizes damage to the femoral bone marrow canal while ensuring accuracy.

Dr. Hung noted that since 2016, the Department of Orthopedics at CMUH has performed over 400 robotic-assisted joint replacement surgeries. Previously, such surgeries were entirely self-funded, making them less accessible to most patients due to high costs. However, in late April this year, CMUH introduced a new ROSA robotic arm system, allowing eligible patients to receive partial coverage through Taiwan’s National Health Insurance. This policy covers part of the costs for joint implants, surgery, and hospitalization, significantly reducing the financial burden. This advancement offers patients a new, more affordable option for treating joint-related conditions.