Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026
In Vitro Application of a Wireless Sensor in Flexion-Extension Gap Balance of Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty
Published on: May 5, 2023
Achieving Accuracy and Gap Balancing in Fully Autonomous Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty with Functional
K T Rajashekhar1, Aniruddha R Patil1, Adarsh Krishna K Bhat1
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Apollo Hospitals, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Introduction:
The robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA) facilitates real-time intra-operative balance assessment and accurate component positioning customized to the patient's ligamentous behavior, enhancing procedural accuracy and precision. Preliminary findings suggest RA-TKA, using fully autonomous computed tomography based systems, such as Cuvis, result in better short-term outcomes and improved patient-reported outcome measures. Coronal plane alignment of the knee classification aids to decide pre-arthritic phenotype of the knee and soft tissue balance judgment.
Materials And Methods:
This investigation was conducted as a retrospective matched-cohort observational study. We retrospectively analyzed a matched group of patients to compare RA TKA with functional alignment (n = 26) and mechanically aligned conventional-TKA (CM-TKA) (n = 24) in individuals with a valgus deformity Ranawat grade 1 and 2. The evaluation included radiographic assessments and PROMs over a 6-month period. The Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index score and Oxford Knee Score (OKS) were used to determine the outcomes.
Results:
The RA TKA cohort showed faster recovery than CM TKA patients. The RA TKA cohort required less soft tissue releases (P = 0.010). At the 3-month follow-up, there was a substantial reduction in pain in the RA TKA cohort (19.73 ± 2.38 vs. 25.71 ± 3.96, P = 0.000). However, over 6 months, pain reduction was found to be similar in both groups (13.27 ± 1.99 vs. 13.21 ± 2.04, P = 0.281). The improvement in OKS in RA TKA cohort was significant at 3 months (33.96 ± 3.88 vs. 31.04 ± 2.79, P = 0.006) and at 6 months (39.77 ± 2.97 vs. 36.46 ± 3.18, P = 0.136), and improved ROM in both groups (111.25 ± 13.29 vs. 116.96 ± 9.31, P = 0.083), with improvement in flexion (12.73 ± 5.85 vs. 7.08 ± 10.41, P = 0.210) in RA TKA compared to the CM-TKA cohort.
Conclusion:
The CUVIS robotic system leads to optimum gap balancing throughout the range of motion, less soft tissue release, less post-operative pain, and improved function in short-term follow-up with optimum patella tracking in valgus knees.
