Accuracy of a New Robotic System for Assisting in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Cadaveric Study

Abstract Background Robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been shown to facilitate high-precision bone resection, an important goal in TKA. The aim of this cadaveric study was to analyse the accuracy of the target angle and bone resection thickness of a recently introduced robotic TKA system. Methods This study used 4 frozen cadaveric specimens (8 knees), 2 different implant designs (Johnson & Johnson and ICON), navigation, and a robotic system (ROPA TKA system, Longwood Valley MedTech). The 4 surgeons participating in this study were trained and familiar with the basic principles and operating procedures of this system. The angle of the bone cuts performed using the robotic system was compared with the target angles from the intraoperative plan. For each bone cut, the resection thickness was recorded and compared with the planned resection thickness. Results The mean angular difference for all specimens was less than 1°, and the standard deviation was less than 2°. The mean difference between the planned and measured angles was close to 0 and not significantly different from 0 except for the difference in the frontal tibial component angle, which was 0.88°. The mean difference in the hip-knee-ankle axis angle was -0.21°±1.06°. The mean bone resection difference for all specimens was less than 1 mm, and the standard deviation was less than 0.5 mm. Conclusions The results of our cadaveric experimental study show that surgeons using this new surgical robot in TKA can perform highly accurate bone cuts and achieve planned angles and resection thicknesses.