Open AccessRobot‐assisted total knee arthroplasty improves mechanical alignment and accuracy of component positioning compared to the conventional technique
Author(s) -
Nam Chang Hyun,
Lee Su Chan,
Kim JinHong,
Ahn Hye Sun,
Baek JiHoon
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of experimental orthopaedics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 2197-1153
DOI - 10.1186/s40634-022-00546-z
Subject(s) - coronal plane , sagittal plane , tibia , total knee arthroplasty , medicine , orthodontics , radiography , femur , arthroplasty , surgery , biomedical engineering , materials science , anatomy
Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the mechanical axis, accuracy of component positioning, and polyethylene liner thickness between robot‐assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and conventional TKA. Methods From July 2020 to December 2020, 154 TKAs were performed in 110 patients with Kellgren‐Lawrence grade IV varus knees using a robot‐assisted system (MAKO group). Additionally, 110 propensity score‐matched patients who had undergone primary conventional TKA were chosen in a one‐to‐one ratio for the conventional group. Post‐operative radiographs were used to evaluate mechanical axis and component coronal and sagittal positioning. The polyethylene liner thickness was investigated. The respective mean error values and outliers were obtained for the two study groups and were compared to determine the mechanical axis and the accuracy of the postoperative component positioning. Results Patients in the MAKO group achieved better accuracy than those in the conventional group in terms of postoperative mean mechanical axis (1.9˚ vs. 2.8˚, p < 0.05), femur coronal inclination (91.2˚ vs. 91.8˚, p < 0.05), tibia coronal inclination (90.8˚ vs. 91.1˚, p < 0.05), and tibia sagittal inclination (90.7˚ vs. 91.7˚, p < 0.05). However, there was no difference between the two groups in polyethylene liner thickness. Conclusions Robot‐assisted TKA showed improved mechanical axis and higher accuracy of component positioning compared to the conventional TKA technique, with no significant difference in polyethylene liner thickness between the two groups. Long‐term follow‐up studies are needed to compare the clinical outcomes of robot‐assisted TKA. Level of evidence IV.