Robot-assisted partial knee replacement versus standard total knee replacement (RoboKnees): a protocol for a pilot...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Robotics in medicine
• Knee biomechanics

Background:

• Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is common for end-stage knee osteoarthritis.
• Partial knee arthroplasty (PKA) preserves natural knee biomechanics but may have shorter longevity than TKA.
• Robotic assistance enhances precision in PKA procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of robot-assisted partial knee arthroplasty (RA-PKA) for a larger definitive trial.
• To assess clinical outcomes of RA-PKA compared to manual total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Main Methods:

• A parallel randomized pilot trial involving 64 patients with uni- or bicompartmental knee arthritis.
• Patients were randomized to either RA-PKA or manual TKA.
• Primary outcome: feasibility of a larger trial. Secondary outcomes: joint awareness, return to activities, function, pain, re-operations, quality of life, alignment, kinematics, and complications up to 24 months.

Main Results:

• Feasibility of conducting a larger trial is under investigation.
• Clinical outcomes including knee function, pain, and patient-reported results are being assessed.
• Radiographic alignment and gait kinematics are being analyzed.

Conclusions:

• The RoboKnees pilot study is the initial phase for evaluating robot-assisted partial knee replacements.
• Findings will inform the design of future large-scale trials.
• This study aims to guide surgeons on the potential advantages of RA-PKA.