Robotic-Assisted Kinematically Aligned Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Robotics in Medicine

Background:

• Mechanical alignment (MA) is the traditional standard for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), aiming for neutral limb alignment.
• Kinematic alignment (KA) aims to restore pre-arthritic joint geometry and soft-tissue balance.
• Existing KA techniques have limitations due to cartilage assumptions and manual resection precision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a surgical technique for robotic-assisted kinematically aligned TKA.
• To address limitations of traditional KA by enhancing accuracy and reproducibility.
• To leverage robotic technology for patient-specific component placement.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a CT-based robotic platform for intraoperative cartilage mapping.
• Guiding patient-specific bone resections based on robotic data.
• Applying robotic assistance to achieve kinematic alignment principles in TKA.
• Performing objective soft-tissue balance assessment with robotic guidance.

Main Results:

• Robotic assistance enhances accuracy and reproducibility in TKA implant placement.
• Patient-specific bony resection planning is facilitated by robotic platforms.
• Intraoperative mapping of intact cartilage improves precision of KA.
• Potential for reduced intraoperative bony recuts due to improved soft-tissue balance assessment.

Conclusions:

• Robotic-assisted KA TKA offers a more precise and reproducible approach compared to traditional methods.
• This technique leverages advanced technology to overcome limitations of manual KA.
• It enables restoration of native joint geometry and soft-tissue balance with enhanced accuracy.