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 .
Computer-assisted versus manual TKA: no difference in clinical or functional outcomes at 5-year follow-up.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether differences in clinical , functional , or radiographic outcomes existed at 5-year follow-up between patients who underwent computer-assisted or manual total knee arthroplasty ( TKA ) . Seventy-eight consecutive TKAs were performed by a single surgeon who had extensive experience performing computer-assisted and manual TKA .  The manual group ( n=40 ) and computer-assisted group ( n=38 ) were similar with regard to age , sex , diagnosis , body mass index , surgical technique , implants , perioperative management , Knee Society scores , and anteroposterior mechanical axis . Sixty-three ( manual group , n=34 ; computer-assisted group , n=29 ) patients were available for final follow-up . At 5-year follow-up , no statistically significant differences were found in Knee Society knee score ( P=.289 ) , function score ( P=.272 ) , range of motion ( P=.284 ) , pain score ( P=.432 ) , or UCLA activity score ( P=.109 ) between the 2 groups . Postoperative radiographs showed a significant difference in the mechanical axis ( P=.004 ) between the 2 groups ; however , both groups achieved a neutral mechanical axis of ±3 ° ( computer-assisted group mean , 2.0 ° ; manual group mean , -0.24 ° ).When TKA was performed by an experienced surgeon , no significant difference was identified at 5-year follow-up between patients who underwent computer-assisted vs manual TKA
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 .