The integration of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) in orthopaedic surgeries has been expanding rapidly. In Europe and especially in the United States, revenue from AI in healthcare is booming. But is robot-assisted surgery currently a better option than more traditional methods? And what is the cost to the patient?
We spoke with Dr. Sarunas Tarasevicius, a surgeon at Nordorthopaedic Clinic in Kaunas, Lithuania, who explained the current reality of AI in surgery and discussed what the future may hold for this growing sector.
February 12, 2025. Artificial intelligence and robotics are revolutionising surgery, including orthopaedic surgery. In 2022, the global market size of AI-based surgical robots was US$6.4 billion. That same year, 22% of surgical procedures in the US were carried out using robotic technology. However, the jury is still out when it comes to effectiveness and precision.
A study at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons meeting in February 2024 found that patients who received robot-assisted knee replacements were as likely to need revision surgery within two years as those who received manual surgery. So is robotic-assisted surgery the future of orthopaedics, or just a costly distraction?
Dr. Sarunas Tarasevicius, a surgeon at Nordorthopaedic Clinic in Vilnius, Lithuania, has completed over 5,000 operations. Below, he explains how robot-assisted orthopaedic surgery compares with traditional methods, whether AI-driven surgery is taking over the industry, and what the future may hold.
Experience Matters
Of course, AI-driven surgery can be of value. This is particularly true if the surgeon is less experienced. According to Dr Tarasevicius, the benefit of robotics and AI is limited for an experienced surgeon who already knows how to make precise cuts, radiological measurements, and balance ligaments without AI assistance.
However, robotics can help less-experienced surgeons perform these actions more accurately. He says AI is “just a tool to make operations more accurate.”
EU vs. USA
Make no mistake, the European Union will invest heavily in AI-assisted surgery. The EU is expected to contribute more than US$50 billion to the global AI healthcare market in 2028. However, the USA, which holds a 58% revenue share in the market, is expected to generate $102 billion in revenue in 2030. Is Europe falling behind or simply being prudent?
Dr Tarasevicius explains that in the US, it’s more common to implement the technology quickly, whose advantage is that all of its surgical data can be provided for complaints or litigation. But that means ironing out the tech’s wrinkles after it’s been brought to market.
He says that European health authorities are not as rushed to implement a new technology immediately without it being tested and proven.
Regarding demand, Dr Tarasevicius remarked that it’s rare for a patient to ask about a robot for surgery. “By the way, there is not a single clinic in Lithuania that has one,” he adds.
Traditional Methods
Robotic surgery remains promising, but for now, manual surgery’s “old-fashioned” methods are still optimal for cost, precision, and patient recovery.
For one, utilising robotics for surgery increases its cost by around 2,000 euros per operation. Dr. Tarasevicius notes that AI use is still dependent on the relative wealth of the health system or nation. And since its effectiveness is unproven, that cost is still prohibitive for many.
While AI can help surgeons with tasks like planning boning cuts and analysing radiological images, Dr Tarasevicius says that we are nowhere near having robots surpass humans in surgical skill.
“Surgeons are by no means opposed to new technologies that can lead to better clinical outcomes, but robotic surgery has yet to prove it.
“It is an expensive system that increases the time spent in the operating room.”
Robots may offer a hand, but for now, it appears there’s no substitute for human expertise and empathy in the operating room.
About Nordorthopaedics
Nordorthopaedics is a private clinic in Kaunas, Lithuania, which is part of Nordclinic. It offers high-quality services and focuses on foreign patients. Equipped with modern diagnostic and surgical facilities, its medical professionals speak fluent English and show personal attention to every patient.
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