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Simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty with robotic and conventional techniques: a prospective, randomized study

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

The authors performed this study to compare the outcomes of robotic-assisted and conventional TKA in same patient simultaneously. It was hypothesized that the robotic-assisted procedure would produce better leg alignment and component orientation, and thus, improve patient satisfaction and clinical and radiological outcomes.

Methods

Thirty patients underwent bilateral sequential total knee replacement. One knee was replaced by robotic-assisted implantation and the other by conventional implantation.

Results

Radiographic results showed significantly more postoperative leg alignment outliers of conventional sides than robotic-assisted sides (mechanical axis, coronal inclination of the femoral prosthesis, and sagittal inclination of the tibial prosthesis). Robotic-assisted sides had non-significantly better postoperative knee scores and ROMs. Robotic-assisted sides needed longer operation times (25 min, SD ± 18) and longer skin incisions. Nevertheless, postoperative bleeding was significantly less for robotic-assisted sides.

Conclusion

The better alignment accuracy of robotic TKA and the good clinical results achieved may favorably influence clinical and radiological outcomes.

Level of evidence

I.

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Conflict of interest

None of the authors received financial support for this study.

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Correspondence to Jong-Keun Seon.

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Song, EK., Seon, JK., Park, SJ. et al. Simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty with robotic and conventional techniques: a prospective, randomized study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 19, 1069–1076 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1400-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1400-9

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