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 .
Minimally invasive Oxford phase 3 unicompartmental knee replacement: results of 1000 cases.
This prospect i ve study describes the outcome of the first 1000 phase 3 Oxford medial unicompartmental knee replacements ( UKRs ) implanted using a minimally invasive surgical approach for the recommended indications by two surgeons and followed up independently . The mean follow-up was 5.6 years ( 1 to 11 ) with 547 knees having a minimum follow-up of five years . At five years their mean Oxford knee score was 41.3 ( sd 7.2 ) , the mean American Knee Society Objective Score 86.4 ( sd 13.4 ) , mean American Knee Society Functional Score 86.1 ( sd 16.6 ) , mean Tegner activity score 2.8 ( sd 1.1 ) . For the entire cohort , the mean maximum flexion was 130 ° at the time of final review . The incidence of implant-related re-operations was 2.9 % ; of these 29 re-operations two were revisions requiring revision knee replacement components with stems and wedges , 17 were conversions to a primary total knee replacement , six were open reductions for dislocation of the bearing , three were secondary lateral UKRs and one was revision of a tibial component . The most common reason for further surgical intervention was progression of arthritis in the lateral compartment ( 0.9 % ) , followed by dislocation of the bearing ( 0.6 % ) and revision for unexplained pain ( 0.6 % ) . If all implant-related re-operations are considered failures , the ten-year survival rate was 96 % ( 95 % confidence interval , 92.5 to 99.5 ) . If only revisions requiring revision components are considered failures the ten-year survival rate is 99.8 % ( confidence interval 99 to 100 ) . This is the largest published series of  UKRs  implanted through a minimally invasive surgical approach and with ten-year survival data . The survival rates are similar to those obtained with a st and ard open approach whereas the function is better . This demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of a minimally invasive surgical approach for implanting the Oxford UKR
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 .