Open AccessRobotic-assisted Medial Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: Options and Outcomes
Author(s) -
Jess H. Lonner,
Mitchell R. Klement
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of the american academy of orthopaedic surgeons
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.343
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1095-8762
pISSN - 1067-151X
DOI - 10.5435/jaaos-d-17-00710
Subject(s) - unicompartmental knee arthroplasty , medicine , survivorship curve , total knee arthroplasty , arthroplasty , implant , osteoarthritis , kinematics , patient satisfaction , ligament , surgery , alternative medicine , pathology , classical mechanics , cancer , physics
Medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has several benefits over total knee arthroplasty for the surgical treatment of isolated medial compartmental arthritis in the knee, including reduced surgical risk and postoperative morbidity, rapid recovery, more normal kinematics, greater patient satisfaction, and shorter hospitalization. Nonetheless, there is substantial concern about the higher revision rates and lower survivorship in UKA compared to those in total knee arthroplasty. Robotic assistance has been advanced to improve the precision of bone preparation, component alignment, and quantified ligament balance in UKA, with the ultimate goal of improving kinematics and implant survivorship. Two currently available semiautonomous robotic platforms have demonstrated improved accuracy, and emerging short-term follow-up has demonstrated satisfactory functional outcomes. Further studies will be needed to determine if these technologies indeed have a meaningful impact on patient outcomes and survivorship in the mid- to long term.