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 .
Cemented versus cementless Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty using radiostereometric analysis: a randomised controlled trial.
The most common reasons for revision of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty ( UKA ) are loosening and pain . Cementless components may reduce the revision rate . The aim of this study was to compare the fixation and clinical outcome of cementless and cemented Oxford UKAs .  A total of 43 patients were r and omised to receive either a cemented or a cementless Oxford UKA and were followed for two years with radiostereometric analysis ( RSA ) , radiographs aligned with the bone-implant interfaces and clinical scores . The femoral components migrated significantly during the first year ( mean 0.2 mm ) but not during the second . There was no significant difference in the extent of migration between cemented and cementless femoral components in either the first or the second year . In the first year the cementless tibial components  subsided significantly more than the cemented components ( mean 0.28 mm ( sd 0.17 ) vs. 0.09 mm ( sd 0.19 mm ) ) . In the second year , although there was a small amount of subsidence ( mean 0.05 mm ) there was no significant difference ( p = 0.92 ) between cemented and cementless tibial components . There were no femoral radiolucencies . Tibial radiolucencies were narrow ( < 1 mm ) and were significantly ( p = 0.02 ) less common with cementless ( 6 of 21 ) than cemented ( 13 of 21 ) components at two years . There were no complete radiolucencies with cementless components , whereas five of 21 ( 24 % ) cemented components had complete radiolucencies . The clinical scores at two years were not significantly different ( p = 0.20 ) . As second-year migration is predictive of subsequent loosening , and as radiolucency is suggestive of reduced implant-bone contact , these data suggest that fixation of the cementless components is at least as good as , if not better than , that of cemented devices
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 .