Faster return to sport after robotic-assisted lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: a comparative study

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is frequently performed on active patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis who desire a quick return to sports. The aim of this study was to compare return to sport after lateral UKA performed by robotic-assisted and conventional techniques.

This retrospective study has assessed 28 lateral UKA (25 patients), 11 performed with robotic-assisted technique and 17 with conventional technique, between 2012 and 2016. The mean age was 65.5 and 59.5 years, with a mean follow-up of 34.4 months (range 15-50) and 39.3 months (range 22-68). Both groups were comparable pre-operatively. Sport habits and the details of the return to sports were assessed using University of California, Los Angeles Scale (UCLA) and direct questioning.

Robotic-assisted surgical technique provided significantly quicker return to sports than conventional technique (4.2 ±1.8 months; range 1-6 vs 10.5 ± 6.7 months; range 3-24; p < 0.01), with a comparable rate of return to sports (100% vs 94%). The practiced sports after lateral UKA were similar to those done preoperatively, with mainly low- and mid-impact sports (hiking, cycling, swimming, and skiing).

Robotic-assisted lateral UKA reduces the time to return to sports at pre-symptomatic levels when compared with conventional surgical technique. The return to sports rate after surgery is high in both groups. A long-term study would provide data on the prothesis wear in this active population.

Comparative retrospective study, Level III.