Does robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty improve alignment and outcomes?

Abstract

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) continues to increase in popularity as an excellent option for patients with single compartment disease. Robotic-assisted UKA has emerged as an optional tool with hopes for improvement in component placement, limb alignment, and patient outcomes. Furthermore, as patients continue to educate themselves, robotic assistance will become increasingly prevalent. There are now various robotic platforms on the market, each with varying differences, and more published data are emerging on alignment and outcomes. The literature to date largely concludes that robotic-assisted UKA provides more accuracy than manual UKA. Short- to mid-term outcomes may be improved with robotic UKA, but definitive differences in outcomes are uncertain. Survivorship with robotic UKA is non-inferior to reported manual UKA survivorship rates, and more long-term data are needed to fully elucidate this point. Orthopaedic surgeons should weigh these potential advantages against the drawbacks including cost and operative time when making a decision about whether robotic technology is right for their practice.