Methods for robotic arthroplasty

1. A method for robotic arthroplasty comprising:

providing a robotic system including a cutting instrument;

positioning at least one locating device of a navigation system to track a portion of a patient wherein the navigation system cooperates with the robotic system to provide the robotic system with information as to a position of the cutting instrument relative to the portion of the patient;

making a first incision to provide access to the portion of the patient;

making a second incision, separate from the first incision, to provide access to the portion of the patient;

cutting the portion of the patient with the cutting instrument of the robotic system through the first incision; and

placing an implant on the portion of the patient through the second incision.

2. The method of claim 1 , including cutting the portion of the patient with the cutting instrument of the robotic system through the second incision.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein cutting the portion of the patient with the cutting instrument of the robotic system through the first incision includes cutting the portion of the patient without using a guide member.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the at least one locating device of the navigation system to track the portion of the patient includes pinning a reflector onto bone.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein cutting the portion of the patient with the cutting instrument of the robotic system through the first incision includes cutting a knee portion of the patient for a unicompartmental joint arthroplasty.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein cutting the portion of the patient with the cutting instrument of the robotic system through the first incision includes cutting a knee portion of the patient for a bicompartmental or total joint arthroplasty.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the patient includes a joint and the joint includes a knee, shoulder, hand, wrist, foot, ankle, or spine.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising imaging the joint.

9. The method of claim 7 , including preserving at least a portion of a ligament of the joint while cutting the portion of the patient with the cutting instrument of the robotic system through the first incision.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the implant with the robotic system through the second incision.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the robotic system includes a robotic arm.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein cutting the portion of the patient with the cutting instrument of the robotic system through the at least one of the first incision and the second incision includes moving the cutting instrument through the first incision to cut the portion of the patient with the cutting instrument.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein cutting the portion of the patient with the cutting instrument of the robotic system through the at least one of the first incision and the second incision includes moving the cutting instrument through the second incision to cut the portion of the patient with the cutting instrument.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting instrument includes a saw, milling cutter, laser, or ultrasonic cutter.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the robotic system includes a locating laser light.

16. The method of claim 1 , including placing an implant on the portion of the patient through the second incision.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein cutting the portion of the patient with the cutting instrument of the robotic system through the first incision includes cutting a femur of the patient with the cutting instrument of the robotic system through the first incision.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first incision has a first length and the second incision has a second length longer than the first length.