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 and computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty versus conventional technique: a prospective, randomized study
We conducted a prospect i ve , r and omized study to compare the short-term results of minimally invasive and computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty ( MICA-TKA ) with those of conventional total knee arthroplasty ( C-TKA ) for 12-month follow-up . A total of 87 subjects who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study were prospect ively r and omized consecutively into two groups : the C-TKA group ( Group A , n = 44 ) and the MICA-TKA technique ( Group B , n = 43 ) . All the operations were performed by the same senior surgeon . Before surgery and at follow-up , patients were evaluated by the same observer . Tourniquet time as well as total blood loss was compared . Knee Society scores ( KSSs ) , Knee Society functional scores ( KSFSs ) , range of motion ( ROM ) , and radiographic results were assessed and reported preoperatively and at 12-month follow-up . Of these patients , 82 ( Group A 42 ; Group B 40 ) were available for 12-month evaluation . The two groups were found to be similar in terms of coronal mechanical axis . Similarly , the femoral rotational profile revealed that the prosthesis in Group A was implanted with similar internal rotation to Group B. The average blood loss in patients of Group B was significantly reduced as compared to patients of Group A. No significant difference was detected in terms of tourniquet time . Clinical results in Group B , with regard to ROMs and KSSs , as well as KSFSs were significantly superior to that in Group A. Based on the results obtained from this study , it is demonstrated that MICA-TKA leads to a similarly accurate restoration of leg alignment and component orientation compared to the C-TKA . Moreover , MICA-TKA produces superior clinical results to that of C-TKA . However , there is clearly a need for additional high- quality clinical trials with long-term follow-up to confirm the clinical benefits of MICA-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 .