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

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.