Reliability of pre-resection ligament tension assessment in imageless robotic assisted total knee replacement

Ligament tension balance is a major determinant for the success of total knee replacement (TKR). The present study aimed at determining the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability in performing ligament tension assessment using an imageless robotic-assisted TKR.

Twenty-four knees in 21 patients who received robotic-assisted TKR for end-stage varus osteoarthritis were examined. Three orthopedic specialists and six orthopedic trainees participated in the operations. Data from the ligament tension assessment were collected during the operations.

For the inter-rater reliability, "extension medial" and "flexion medial" had excellent reliability whilst "extension lateral" and "flexion lateral" had good-to-excellent reliability. For the intra-rater reliability, "extension medial" showed excellent reliability, "extension lateral" and "flexion medial" showed good-to-excellent reliability, and "flexion lateral" showed moderate-to-excellent reliability.

Robotic-assisted technology provides a reliable solution to improve ligament tension assessment. All ligament tension assessments with the use of the technology could demonstrate at least good-to-excellent reliability except for the intra-rater reliability of "flexion lateral".