A Perspective on Robotic Assistance for Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract

Knee arthroplasty is used to treat patients with degenerative joint disease of the knee to reduce pain and restore the function of the joint. Although patient outcomes are generally quite good, there are still a number of patients that are dissatisfied with their procedures. Aside from implant design which has largely become standard, surgical technique is one of the main factors that determine clinical results. Therefore, a lot of effort has gone into improving surgical technique including the use of computer-aided surgery. The latest generation of orthopedic surgical tools involves the use of robotics to enhance the surgeons' abilities to install implants more precisely and consistently. This review presents an evolution of robot-assisted surgical systems for knee replacement with an emphasis on the clinical results available in the literature. Ever since various robotic-assistance systems were developed and used clinically worldwide, studies have demonstrated that these systems are as safe as and more accurate than conventional methods of manual implantation. Robotic surgical assistance will likely result in improved surgical technique and improved clinical results.

Robot-Assisted versus Conventional Total and Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: A Meta-analysis of Radiological and Functional Outcomes

“…This supports the theory that robotic surgery provides better surgical precision and accurate bone cuts, thus minimizing surgical blood loss. 43 Operative time is often used as an indicator for surgical proficiency. 44 Our study findings conclude that conventional TKA and UKA required significantly lesser operative time compared with robot-assisted knee arthroplasty (low-to-high The Journal of Knee Surgery quality evidence).…”

Robotics in Total Hip Arthroplasty—A Current Review

“…Passive, Active, and Semi-active All of the robotic systems currently used in orthopaedic surgery are classified as either passive, semi-active, or active. 6 Passive systems require continuous and direct control of the surgeon to complete a task during the procedure. Active systems perform a task independent of any surgeon involvement.…”

Robotic-assisted Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

“…This system MAKO Tactile Guidance System (MAKO Surgical Corporation) is a CT-based technology in combination with a navigation module that allows a complete computer-assisted planning of the implant, positioning, and further robot-assisted predefined burring of the tibial and femoral component cavities in vivo 19 (Fig. 1).…”