A literature review of robotic systems showed that these systems can , similarly to computer navigation , reliably improve lower leg alignment , component positioning and soft tissues balancing .
Findings in this study suggest that computer navigation or robotic assistance may help managing these multiple variables and could improve outcomes .
Recently , there is a growing interest in surgical variables that are intraoperatively controlled by orthopaedic surgeons , including lower leg alignment , component positioning and soft tissues balancing .
Since more tight control over these factors is associated with improved outcomes of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty ( TKA ) , several computer navigation and robotic-assisted systems have been developed .
Although mechanical axis accuracy and component positioning have been shown to improve with computer navigation , no superiority in functional outcomes has yet been shown .
This could be explained by the fact that many differences exist between the number and type of surgical variables these systems control .
Most systems control lower leg alignment and component positioning , while some in addition control soft tissue balancing .
Finally , robotic-assisted systems have the additional advantage of improving surgical precision .
Manually controlling all these surgical variables can be difficult for the orthopaedic surgeon .
Robot-assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty
Increasing evidence suggests performing  total knee arthroplasty  using computer navigation can lead to more accurate surgical positioning of the components and knee alignment compared to a conventional operating technique without computer assistance . The use of robotic technology could theoretically take this accuracy one level further because it uses navigation in combination with ultimate mechanical precision , which could eliminate or reduce the inevitable margin of error during mechanical preparation of the bony cuts of total knee arthroplasty by the surgeon . We prospect ively followed 25 consecutive cases using an active surgical robot . The minimum followup was 5.1 years ( mean , 5.5 years ; range , 5.1 - 5.8 years ) . Our results demonstrate excellent implant positioning and alignment was achieved within the 1 ° error of neutral alignment in all three planes in all cases . Despite this technical precision , the excessive operating time required for the robotic implantation , the technical complexity of the system , and the extremely high operational costs have led us to ab and on this procedure and direct our interest more toward smart semiactive robotic systems . Level of Evidence : Level IV , therapeutic study . See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence
A literature review of robotic systems showed that these systems can , similarly to computer navigation , reliably improve lower leg alignment , component positioning and soft tissues balancing .
Findings in this study suggest that computer navigation or robotic assistance may help managing these multiple variables and could improve outcomes .
Recently , there is a growing interest in surgical variables that are intraoperatively controlled by orthopaedic surgeons , including lower leg alignment , component positioning and soft tissues balancing .
Since more tight control over these factors is associated with improved outcomes of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty ( TKA ) , several computer navigation and robotic-assisted systems have been developed .
Although mechanical axis accuracy and component positioning have been shown to improve with computer navigation , no superiority in functional outcomes has yet been shown .
This could be explained by the fact that many differences exist between the number and type of surgical variables these systems control .
Most systems control lower leg alignment and component positioning , while some in addition control soft tissue balancing .
Finally , robotic-assisted systems have the additional advantage of improving surgical precision .
Manually controlling all these surgical variables can be difficult for the orthopaedic surgeon .