Robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty system provides more precise control of the femoral rotation angle: A retrospective study

Int J Med Robot. 2024 Jun;20(3):e2635. doi: 10.1002/rcs.2635.

Abstract

Background: Rotational alignment in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a crucial technical point that needs attention. We conducted a retrospective study to investigate whether a new robot-assisted TKA (RA-TKA) could improve the accuracy of rotational alignment and whether rotational alignment affects postoperative pain and functional evaluation of the knee.

Methods: A total of 136 consecutive patients who underwent TKA were included in this study. Half of the patients underwent RA-TKA and the other half underwent conventional TKA (CON-TKA) by the same group of surgeons. Collect the relevant parameters.

Results: The postoperative femoral rotation angle (FRA) was -0.72 ± 2.59° in the robot-assisted group and 1.13 ± 2.73° in the conventional group, and were statistically significantly different (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: This study provides preliminary evidence that the RA-TKA provides more precise control of FRA than CON-TKA, and verifies that tibial rotation angle and combined rotation angle affect postoperative knee pain and functional evaluation.

Keywords: robotics; rotational alignment; total knee arthroplasty.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee* / methods
  • Female
  • Femur* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Knee Joint / physiopathology
  • Knee Joint / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain, Postoperative / etiology
  • Pain, Postoperative / prevention & control
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Robotic Surgical Procedures* / methods
  • Rotation
  • Treatment Outcome