If I Had a Hammer: The Role of Automated Impactors in Transforming Total Hip Arthroplasty Procedures and Recovery

Background Impaction during total hip arthroplasty (THA) is physically demanding and places considerable stress on surgeons, contributing to fatigue and musculoskeletal injury. Automated impactor systems have emerged as a potential solution to reduce these physical demands. This study explores the dual benefits of such a system in THA, focusing on both surgeon well-being and patient recovery outcomes. Methods The research combines wearable sensing technology and mobile sensing applications across two complementary studies. The Surgeon Exertion arm of the study assessed surgeon exertion and well-being during THA procedures performed with a traditional mallet vs an automated impactor system, measuring physiological stress markers and recovery indicators with the use of wearable sensing technology. The Postoperative Patient Outcomes arm evaluated patient recovery outcomes, leveraging mobile sensing technology to passively collect real-world data on physical activity, pain, and mood pre- and post-THA. Results Surgeon Exertion results indicate significantly lower physiological stress markers and improved sleep quality for the surgeon when the automated impactor system was used for the day's surgical cases compared to the traditional mallet (IMPACTOR: 108.8 bpm vs MALLET: 121.2 bpm; P < .0001; 7.6 h vs 6.3 h sleep; P < .0005). Postoperative Patient Outcomes demonstrated enhanced functional outcomes and increased daily mobility postoperatively in patients treated with the automated impactor system compared to patients treated with a traditional mallet THA ( P = .03 for function and steps; P = .04 for walking distance), highlighting the device's potential to improve patient recovery trajectories. Conclusions The integration of an automated impactor system in THA surgeries offers significant benefits for both surgeon well-being and patient outcomes, including improved hip function, greater daily mobility, and increased walking distance. The study's innovative use of mobile sensing and wearable technologies provides a robust framework for understanding the impacts of surgical innovations in real-world settings.