Component Asymmetry in Robotic-Assisted Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Robotics in Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Accurate component sizing is crucial for successful total knee arthroplasty (TKA) outcomes.
• Oversizing or undersizing TKA components can lead to complications like increased patellofemoral forces or instability.
• Robotic-assisted TKA offers enhanced precision in alignment and planning, potentially improving outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the frequency of component asymmetry in simultaneous bilateral robotic-assisted TKA.
• To assess symmetry in femoral, tibial, and patellar components in a Middle Eastern population.
• To compare asymmetry rates between robotic-assisted and conventional bilateral TKA.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 140 patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral robotic-assisted TKA.
• Inclusion of primary, uncomplicated procedures performed by a single surgeon.
• Assessment of femoral, tibial, polyethylene, and patellar component symmetry using the Navio robotic system.

Main Results:

• High symmetry was observed: 95% of patients had identical femoral components.
• Only 5% of patients showed femoral component asymmetry (one-size difference or width variation).
• 100% symmetry was found for tibial baseplates, polyethylene inserts, and patellar components.

Conclusions:

• Robotic-assisted bilateral TKA demonstrates a high degree of component symmetry in Middle Eastern populations.
• This technology significantly reduces asymmetry rates compared to conventional TKA in similar cohorts.
• Robotic assistance may improve component sizing accuracy, reduce mismatch, and enhance long-term functional outcomes.