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 .
Midterm outcomes of electromagnetic computer-assisted navigation in minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty
Background A combination of two emerging technologies , computer-assisted navigation and minimally invasive surgery , in total knee arthroplasty has gained increasing interests from orthopedic surgeons around the world . To date , there has never been any midterm study for clinical and radiographic outcomes from using an electromagnetic computer-assisted navigation system . In this study , we aim ed to systematic ally compare clinical and radiographic outcomes of minimally invasive surgery in total knee arthroplasty ( MIS-TKA ) performed with and without electromagnetic computer-assisted navigation at immediate and midterm follow-ups . Methods A total of 151 patients ( 160 knees ) who underwent MIS-TKA were r and omized to be operated with electromagnetic computer-assisted navigation ( group I : 75 patients , 80 knees ) or without the navigation ( group II : 76 patients , 80 knees ) . The clinical and radiographic outcomes of immediate , 6-week postoperative follow-up and average 6.1-year follow-up were compared . Results On immediate , 6-week postoperative follow-up , clinical and radiographic outcomes did not reveal any difference between the two groups except for the fact that the operative time was longer in the navigation group . On 6.1-year follow-up , a total of 58 patients ( 63 knees ) from group I and 58 patients ( 61 knees ) from group II were reevaluated . There were no significant differences in clinical and radiographic loosening and in complications between the two groups . Conclusion In this study , no significant differences of clinical and radiographic outcomes were found for immediate and midterm follow-ups of MIS-TKA performed with and without electromagnetic computer-assisted navigation except for the additional operating time in the navigation group
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 .