Biomechanical Research of Three Parallel Cannulated Compression Screws in Oblique Triangle Configuration for Fixation of Femoral Neck Unstable Fractures.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical treatment with internal fixation, specifically percutaneous fixation with three cannulated compression screws (CCSs), is the preferred choice for young and middle-aged patients. The mechanical advantage of the optimal spatial configuration with three screws provides maximum dispersion and cortical support. We suspect that the spatial proportion of the oblique triangle configuration (OTC) in the cross-section of the femoral neck isthmus (FNI) may significantly improve shear and fatigue resistance of the fixed structure, thereby stabilizing the internal fixation system in femoral neck fracture (FNF). This study aims to explore the mechanical features of OTC and provide a mechanical basis for its clinical application. METHODS: Twenty Sawbone femurs were prepared as Pauwels type III FNF models and divided equally into two fixation groups: OTC and inverted equilateral triangle configuration (IETC). Three 7.3 mm diameter cannulated compression screws (CCSs) were used for fixation. The specimens of FNF after screw internal fixation were subjected to static loading and cyclic loading tests, respectively, with five specimens for each test. Axial stiffness, 5 mm failure load, ultimate load, shear displacement, and frontal rotational angle of two fragments were evaluated. In the cyclic loading test, the load sizes were 700 N, 1400 N, and 2100 N, respectively, and the fracture end displacement was recorded. Results were presented as means ± SD. Data with normal distributions were compared by the Student's t test. RESULTS: In the static loading test, the axial stiffness, ultimate load, shear displacement, and frontal rotational angle of two fragments were (738.64 vs. 620.74) N/mm, (2957.61 vs. 2643.06) N, (4.67 vs. 5.39) mm, and (4.01 vs. 5.52)° (p < 0.05), respectively. Comparison between the femoral head displacement after 10,000 cycles of 700N cyclic loading and total displacement after 20,000 cycles of 700-1400N cyclic loading showed the OTC group was less than the IETC group (p < 0.05). A comparison of femoral head displacement after 10,000 cycles of 1400N and 2100N cycles and total displacement after 30,000 cycles of 700-2100N cycles showed the OTC group was less than another group, but the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: When three CCSs are inserted in parallel to fix FNF, the OTC of three screws has obvious biomechanical advantages, especially in shear resistance and early postoperative weight-bearing, which provides a mechanical basis for clinical selection of ideal spatial configuration for unstable FNF.

Gradual Traction Reduction With the Ilizarov Method for Tile C1.2 Old Pelvic Fracture: A Case Report.

CASE: A 20-year-old man with a Tile C1.2 pelvic fracture was treated with skeletal traction. After 3 months, the patient was unable to stand and walk, and the right lower limb was shortened by 7 cm. Radiographs showed that the sacroiliac joint dislocation was not reduced. Gradual traction reduction with the Ilizarov method was used to correct sacroiliac joint dislocation, and open internal fixation was performed. Postoperatively, the old pelvic fracture was successfully reduced without sacral plexus injury. CONCLUSION: Gradual traction reduction with the Ilizarov method can reduce the risk of sacral plexus injury and achieve satisfactory reduction of Tile C1.2 old pelvic fractures.

Intramedullary nailing versus plating fixation for the treatment of midshaft clavicular fractures: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: This study was to test the hypothesis that intramedullary (IM) nailing fixation of midshaft clavicle fractures could result in better clinical outcomes and lower complications rates than plating fixation. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library database were used to search all English language published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of midshaft clavicle fractures using plating versus IM nailing. The characteristics of the study participants were collected. Outcomes of postoperative shoulder functional measurements, operative data and complications rates were meta-analyzed. RESULTS: Eight hundred and ninety-five patients in ten RCTs and three quasi-RCTs were involved in the meta-analysis. The results of meta-analysis of these studies showed that the functional outcome evaluated by the Constant Shoulder and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores after accepting IM nailing was significantly better than that of plating fixation at one year post-operatively (P < 0.01), with the heterogeneity of 43% and 91%, respectively. Sensitivity analyses of the pooled results of Constant and DASH scores displayed that the functional advantage of IM nailing fixation comes from the subgroup of locked IM nailing. Further, regarding the operative statistics, operative time, blood loss and wound length were significantly less in the IM nailing group than the plating group (P < 0.001). The rates of infection, major complications and complications-related revision surgery were significantly higher in the plating group than the IM nailing group; however, there were no significantly statistical differences in other complications, e.g., nonunion, refracture after hardware removal, implant failure, symptomatic hardware, etc. (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The observations in this review suggested that IM nailing, especially locked IM nailing, could provide better shoulder functional outcome at one-year follow-up. Moreover, IM nailing fixation could effectively reduce operative time, blood loss, rates of infection, major complications, and revision surgery than plating. Further high-quality clinical trials with large samples and consistent designs are still needed to verify the long-term functional advantage of locked and unlocked IM nailing for midshaft clavicle fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Negative pressure promotes macrophage M1 polarization after Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection via the lncRNA XIST/microRNA-125b-5p/A20/NF-κB axis.

Experiments have demonstrated the regulation of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in tuberculosis (TB), and negative pressure treatment has been associated with the alleviation of TB. Here, we investigated the interaction of negative pressure and the lncRNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) in modulating Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. Initially, we established an in vitro cell model of MTB infection and an in vivo mouse model of MTB infection, followed by treatment with negative pressure. Then, we examined the expression of XIST, followed by analysis of the downstream miRNA of XIST. XIST was overexpressed or underexpressed through cell transfection to examine its effects on macrophage polarization via the miR-125b-5p/A2 axis. The MTB models were characterized by upregulated XIST and downregulated miR-125b-5p. XIST bound to miR-125b-5p, leading to its downregulation, and thus causing higher MTB survival in an ESAT-6-dependent manner. Additionally, negative pressure treatment decreased MTB-driven XIST expression through downregulation of A20 (an NF-κB repressor) via miR-125b-5 expression, promoting the M1 polarization program in macrophages through activation of the NF-κB pathway. In summary, negative pressure treatment after MTB infection can promote the polarization of macrophages to the proinflammatory M1 phenotype by regulating the XIST/miR-125b-5p/A20/NF-κB axis.

The oblique triangle configuration of three parallel screws for femoral neck fracture fixation using computer-aided design modules.

Closed reduction and internal fixation with three cannulated compression screws is a common method for treating femoral neck fractures in young and middle-aged patients. Protocols including the inverted triangle configuration and dispersion of the screws still needed further supports. The purpose of this study was to explore a novel oblique triangle configuration (OTC) of three screws in fixing femoral neck fractures based on the morphology of the femoral neck isthmus (FNI). The computer-aided design modules were used to explore the ideal spatial configuration with largest triangle by three parallel screws. A univariate evaluation model was established based on the oval-like cross-section of the FNI. When the three screws were positioned by the OTC, Inverted Equilateral Triangle Configuration (IETC), and the Maximum Area Inverted Isosceles Triangle Configuration (MA-IITC) respectively, the proportion of area and circumference in the cross-section of FNI and the changing trend of proportion were compared under various torsion angles, eccentricity, and cross-sectional area of FNI. The area and circumference ratios of the parallel screws using the OTC method were significantly higher than in the IETC and MA-IITC groups. In the univariate evaluation model, the OTC area ratio and circumference ratio remained stable under the different femoral neck torsion angles, FNI cross-sectional area, and eccentricity. The OTC method provided an ideal spatial configuration for the FNA fixation with the largest area using three parallel screws. The position of the posterior screw was also away from the metaphyseal artery, potentially reducing the possibility of vascular injury and screw penetrating.

Does robotic-assisted computer navigation improve acetabular cup positioning in total hip arthroplasty for Crowe III/IV hip dysplasia? A propensity score case-match analysis.

AIMS: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with hip-dislocation dysplasia remains challenging. This study aims to evaluate whether these patients may benefit from robotic-assisted techniques. METHODS: We reviewed 135 THAs (108 conventional THAs and 27 robotic-assisted THAs) for Crowe type III or IV from January 2017 to August 2019 in our institution. Robotic-assisted THAs were matched with conventional THAs at a 1:1 ratio (27 hips each group) using propensity score matching. The accuracy of cup positioning and clinical outcomes were compared between groups. RESULTS: The inclination of the cup for conventional THAs and robotic THAs was 42.1 ± 5.7 and 41.3 ± 4.6 (p = 0.574), respectively. The anteversion of the cup for conventional THAs was significantly greater than that of robotic THAs (29.5 ± 8.1 and 18.0 ± 4.6; p < 0.001), respectively. The ratio of the acetabular cup in the Lewinnek safe zone was 37% (10/27) in conventional THAs and 96.3% (26/27) in robotic THAs (p < 0.001). Robotic THAs did not achieve better leg length discrepancy than that of conventional THAs (- 0.4 ± 10.9 mm vs. 0.4 ± 8.8 mm, p = 0.774). There was no difference in Harris Hip Score and WOMAC Osteoarthritis index between groups at the 2-year follow-up. No dislocation occurred in all cases at the final follow-up. CONCLUSION: Robotic-assisted THA for patients with high dislocation improves the accuracy of the implantation of the acetabular component with respect to safe zone.

Comparison of oblique triangular configuration and inverted equilateral triangular configuration of three cannulated screws in treating unstable femoral neck fracture: A finite element analysis.

BACKGROUND: The cross-sectional area of three parallel screws might affect the stability of the internal fixation of femoral neck fractures. The screws fixed in the oblique-triangle configuration (OTC) were assumed to have a larger cross-sectional area, but the biomechanical stability has not yet been validated. In this study, finite element analyses were performed to compare the biomechanical properties of the internal fixation fixed by the OTC and the traditional Inverted Equilateral Triangle Configuration (IETC). METHOD: Pauwels type III fracture was established on the three-dimensional femoral model and three cannulated screws with the OTC and traditional IETC methods were applied. The oblique-triangle configuration with the largest area inscribed the femoral neck isthmus by the three screws was determined, the area and circumference of the cross-section formed by the OTC and IETC model were compared. Stress, strain, and displacement peaks of the two configuration models under different loads were compared. Twelve pairs of nodes on the fracture ends were selected and the displacement of the fracture ends was evaluated through the displacement between these nodes. RESULTS: The area and circumference of the cross-section formed by the OTC were larger than those in the IETC model. The degree of stress dispersion around the screw holes in the OTC model was better than that of the IETC, but the stress distribution order of the three screws in the two models was consistent. The maximum stress, strain, displacement, and displacement of the fracture end in the OTC model were smaller than those in the IETC model. The stress, strain, displacement, and fracture end displacement peaks of the two fixed models gradually increase with the increase of loads. CONCLUSION: The oblique-triangle configuration showed superior mechanical properties than the IETC in finite element analyses. This study suggests that when three screws are fixed in parallel method, the larger the cross-sectional area of the screw configuration, the better stability of the internal fixation might be obtained. Furthermore, the biomechanical properties of various spatial configurations and screw holes of the three parallel screws need to be considered before clinical practice.

Instant hydrogelation encapsulates drugs onto implants intraoperatively against osteoarticular tuberculosis.

Osteoarticular Tuberculosis (TB) is a challenging issue because of its chronicity and recurrence. Many drug delivery systems (DDSs) have been developed for general chemotherapy. Herein, we take advantage of instant hydrogelation to in situ encapsulate drugs onto implants intraoperatively, optimizing the drug release profile against osteoarticular TB. First-line chemodrugs, i.e. rifampicin (RFP) and isoniazid (INH) are firstly loaded on tricalcium phosphate (TCP). Then, the encapsulating hydrogel is fabricated by dipping in chitosan (CS) and ß-glycerophosphate (ß-GP) solution and heating at 80 °C for 40 min. The hydrogel encapsulation inhibits explosive drug release initially, but maintains long-term drug release (INH, 158 days; RFP, 53 days) in vitro. Therefore, this technique could inhibit bone destruction and inflammation from TB effectively in vivo, better than our previous ex situ prepared DDSs. The encapsulating technology, i.e. instant hydrogelation of drug-loaded implants, shows potential for regulating the type and ratio of drugs, elastic and viscous modulus of the hydrogel according to the state of illness intraoperatively for optimal drug release.

The Oval-like Cross-section of Femoral Neck Isthmus in Three-dimensional Morphological Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the cross-section shape of the femoral neck isthmus (FNI) in three-dimensional reconstruction model of the femoral neck. METHODS: From December 2009 to December 2012, computed tomography (CT) data of bilateral hip joint from 200 consecutive patients (137 males and 63 females, 69.41 ± 9.21 years old, ranged from 50-85 years old) who underwent surgical treatments for proximal femoral fracture were retrospectively reviewed. The 3D model of the proximal femur was reconstructed, and the "inertia axis" method, which was applied to measure the long and short axes of the cross-section of the FNI, was established. The cross-sectional area and perimeter were calculated by a formula using the length of the long and short axes and then compared with the actual measured values by the software. Correlation between the descriptive parameters of the FNI cross-section (area, perimeter, and eccentricity) and patients' demographics (age, height, and weight) was analyzed. Stepwise linear regression analysis was used to determine the main relevant factors. RESULTS: The ICC results showed excellent data reproducibility ranged from 0.989 to 0.996. There was no significant difference in the cross-sectional area of the FNI between the actual measured values and the predicted values using the formula (732.83 ± 126.74 mm2 vs 731.62 ± 128.15 mm2 , P = 0.322). The perimeter using the two methods showed narrow while significant difference (97.86 ± 8.60 mm vs 92.84 ± 8.65 mm, P < 0.001), the actual measured values were about 5 mm greater than the predicted values. The parameters (area, perimeter, and eccentricity) were significantly larger in male than female (P < 0.001). A positive correlation between the cross-sectional area, perimeter, height, and weight was observed. The stepwise linear regression analysis showed that the regression equation of the FNI area was as follows: Y = -1083.75 + 1033.86 × HEIGHT + 1.92 × WEIGHT, R2 = 0.489. CONCLUSION: The cross-section shape of the FNI appears to be oval-like in the 3D model, which is separated according to the inertia axis, and the findings proposed an anatomical basis for the further study of the spatial configuration of cannulated screws in the treatment of femoral neck fractures.

Epidural electrical stimulation effectively restores locomotion function in rats with complete spinal cord injury.

Epidural electrical stimulation can restore limb motor function after spinal cord injury by reactivating the surviving neural circuits. In previous epidural electrical stimulation studies, single electrode sites and continuous tetanic stimulation have often been used. With this stimulation, the body is prone to declines in tolerance and locomotion coordination. In the present study, rat models of complete spinal cord injury were established by vertically cutting the spinal cord at the T8 level to eliminate disturbance from residual nerve fibers, and were then subjected to epidural electrical stimulation. The flexible extradural electrode had good anatomical topology and matched the shape of the spinal canal of the implanted segment. Simultaneously, the electrode stimulation site was able to be accurately applied to the L2-3 and S1 segments of the spinal cord. To evaluate the biocompatibility of the implanted epidural electrical stimulation electrodes, GFAP/Iba-1 double-labeled immunofluorescence staining was performed on the spinal cord below the electrodes at 7 days after the electrode implantation. Immunofluorescence results revealed no significant differences in the numbers or morphologies of microglia and astrocytes in the spinal cord after electrode implantation, and there was no activated Iba-1+ cell aggregation, indicating that the implant did not cause an inflammatory response in the spinal cord. Rat gait analysis showed that, at 3 days after surgery, gait became coordinated in rats with spinal cord injury under burst stimulation. The regained locomotion could clearly distinguish the support phase and the swing phase and dynamically adjust with the frequency of stimulus distribution. To evaluate the matching degree between the flexible epidural electrode (including three stimulation contacts), vertebral morphology, and the level of the epidural site of the stimulation electrode, micro-CT was used to scan the thoracolumbar vertebrae of rats before and after electrode implantation. Based on the experimental results of gait recovery using three-site stimulation electrodes at L2-3 and S1 combined with burst stimulation in a rat model of spinal cord injury, epidural electrical stimulation is a promising protocol that needs to be further explored. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Chinese PLA General Hospital (approval No. 2019-X15-39) on April 19, 2019.

[Biomechanical study on the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture of A3.3 type with medial sustainable nail and proximal femoral anti-rotation nail].

OBJECTIVE: A3 intertrochanteric fracture is an extremely unstable fracture, which is often treated with intramedullary nail, but the implant failure is common due to the posterior medial fragment cannot be reconstructed. A new medial sustainable nail (MSN-Ⅱ) which can reconstruct the femoral medial support by sustainable screw was introduced in this study. The mechanical effect was verified by biomechanical experiment. METHODS: The loss medial support model of intertrochanteric fracture (A3) was made by artificial Sawbones model, fixed with MSN-Ⅱ and PFNA-Ⅱ, underwent axial loading and axial failure tests. The axial stiffness, yield load, displacement of head-neck fragment and torsional angle of fracture site of these nails were recorded and compared for biomechanical differences. The effect of early reconstruction of medial support with MSN-Ⅱ was determined. RESULTS: The axial stiffness, yield load, the displacement of head and neck fragment when the axial load was 1 800 N and torsional angle of the fracture site after the axial failure test of MSN-Ⅱ were (222.76 ±62.46) N /mm, (4 241.71 ±847.42) N, (11.51 ±0.62) mm, (1.71 ±0.10)° respectively, while the PFNA -Ⅱ was (184.58±40.59) N /mm, (3 058.76±379.63) N, (16.15±1.36) mm, (2.52±0.26)°respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The axial stiffness of MSN-Ⅱ is better than that of PFNA-Ⅱ. The MSN-Ⅱ can bear more loads when fixed A3.3 intertrochanteric fracture and has greater axial and rotational stability. It is an effective means to reconstruct the medial support of A3 intertrochanteric fracture.

Medial support nail and proximal femoral nail antirotation in the treatment of reverse obliquity inter-trochanteric fractures (Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesfrogen/Orthopedic Trauma Association 31-A3.1): a finite-element analysis.

BACKGROUND: The reverse obliquity inter-trochanteric fracture is a distinct fracture pattern that is mechanically different from most inter-trochanteric fractures and the optional treatment of it is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare differences in the efficacy of a novel nail (medial support nail [MSN-II]) and proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA-II) in the treatment of reverse obliquity inter-trochanteric fractures (Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesfrogen/Orthopedic Trauma Association [AO/OTA] 31-A3.1) using finite-element analysis. METHODS: Modeling software was used to establish a three-dimensional model of MSN-II and PFNA-II and an A3.1 inter-trochanteric fracture model. Abaqus software was used to implement different force loads to compare finite-element biomechanical parameters such as the maximum stress in implant and the displacement of fracture site. RESULTS: The femoral stress, implant stress and fracture site displacement of MSN-II was less than that of PFNA-II. The results indicated that the maximal femoral stress was 581 MPa for PFNA-II and 443 MPa for the MSN-II. The maximum stress values in the PFNA-II and MSN-II models were 291 and 241 MPa, respectively. The maximal displacements of the fracture site were 1.47 and 1.16 mm in the PFNA-II and MSN-II models, respectively. CONCLUSION: Compared with PFNA-II for inter-trochanteric fracture (AO/OTA 31-A3.1), MSN-II which was designed with a triangular stability structure can provide better biomechanical stability. The MSN-II may be a feasible option for the treatment of reverse obliquity inter-trochanteric fracture.

Erratum to radiographic assessment of the cup orientation after total hip arthroplasty: a literature review.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.21037/atm.2019.12.150.].

Three-dimensional morphological analysis of the femoral neck torsion angle-an anatomical study.

BACKGROUND: The femoral neck torsion angle (FNTA) is an important but often neglected parameter in assessments of the anatomical morphology of the femoral neck, which is often confused with the femoral neck anteversion angle (FNAA) in the current literature. Currently, the measurement methods reported in the literature all adopt the naked eye or two-dimensional (2D) visualization method, and the measurement parameters and details are not clearly defined. The objection of this research was to provide a reliable 3D method for determining the femoral neck axis, to improve the measurement method of the FNTA, and to analyze the anatomical and clinical significance of the results. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) data of 200 patients who received a lower extremity CT angiography examination were selected, and the bilateral femurs were reconstructed with three dimensional CT (3D CT). First, the 3D axis of the femoral neck was built. Second, the long axis of the cross section the femoral neck isthmus (FNI) and femoral neck basilar part (FNB) were confirmed by the "inertia axes" method, and the plane consisting of the long axis of the cross-section and the center of the femoral head was defined as the long axial plane. Third, the coronal plane of the proximal femur was determined through the long axis of the proximal femur and the femoral coronal. Finally, the FNTAs (the angles between the long axial planes and the coronal plane of the proximal femur) of FNI and FNB were measured. The size of FNTA was compared between the sexes and sides and different locations, the correlation between the parameters and age, height, and weight were evaluated. RESULTS: The difference in FNTA was statistically significant between the isthmus and the basilar part (isthmus 30.58 ± 8.90° vs. basilar part 23.79 ± 3.98°; p < 0.01). Significant difference in the FNTA was observed between the sexes (males 31.99 ± 9.25° vs. females 27.49 ± 7.19°; p < 0.01). The increase in FNTA from the basilar part to the isthmus was 6.79 ± 8.06°, and the male (7.87 ± 8.57°) was greater than the female (4.44 ± 6.23°, p < 0.01). However, no significant difference in the values was observed between sides. Height exerted the greatest effect on the FNTA according to the correlation analysis (r = 0.255, p< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study found a reliable 3D method for the determination of the femoral neck axis improved the measurement method of the FTNTA and made it more accurate and repeatable. The results provided a methodological basis and theoretical support for the research and development of internal fixation device for femoral neck fracture and the spatial configuration of implants in treatment. And the optimal opening point of the femoral medullary cavity was recommended to locate at the posterior position of the top of the femoral neck cross-section during hip replacement.

Use of Robotic-Arm Assisted Technique in Complex Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of data concerning the use of robotic devices in more complex total hip arthroplasty (THA) cases, such as hip dysplasia, ankylosing spondylolysis, and post-traumatic arthritis. CASE PRESENTATION: This case study presented three cases in which the Mako robotic device was used to help accurately implement the surgical plan. The operations went smoothly. The position and angle of the acetabular shells were placed as planned without any complications related to the operation. Postoperative Harris Hip Scores were good in two patients and poor in the patient with ankylosing spondylitis. Robotic-arm assisted surgery may be considered for complex THA cases in order to optimize the accuracy of the reconstruction, especially in the absence of conventional boney landmarks.

Radiographic assessment of the cup orientation after total hip arthroplasty: a literature review.

Optimal acetabular cup orientation is of substantial importance to good long-term function and low complication rates after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The radiographic anteversion (RA) and inclination (RI) angles of the cup are typically studied due to the practicability, simplicity, and ease of interpretation of their measurements. A great number of methods have been developed to date, most of which have been performed on pelvic or hip anteroposterior radiographs. However, there are primarily two influencing factors for these methods: X-ray offset and pelvic rotation. In addition, there are three types of pelvic rotations about the transverse, longitudinal, and anteroposterior axes of the body. Their effects on the RA and RI angles of the cup are interactively correlated with the position and true orientation of the cup. To date, various fitted or analytical models have been established to disclose the correlations between the X-ray offset and pelvic rotation and the RA and RI angles of the cup. Most of these models do not incorporate all the potential influencing parameters. Advanced methods for performing X-ray offset and pelvic rotation corrections are mainly performed on a single pelvic AP radiograph, two synchronized radiographs, or a two-dimensional/three-dimensional (2D-3D) registration system. Some measurement systems, originally developed for evaluating implant migration or wear, could also be used for correcting the X-ray offset and pelvic rotation simultaneously, but some drawbacks still exist with these systems. Above all, the 2D-3D registration technique might be an alternative and powerful tool for accurately measuring cup orientation. In addition to the current methods used for postoperative assessment, navigation systems and augmented reality are also used for the preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance of cup placement. With the continuing development of artificial intelligence and machine learning, these techniques could be incorporated into robot-assisted orthopaedic surgery in the future.