Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty demonstrates decreased postoperative pain and opioid usage compared to conventional total knee arthroplasty

Abstract

Aims Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA) has been introduced to provide accurate bone cuts and help achieve the target knee alignment, along with symmetric gap balancing. The purpose of this study was to determine if any early clinical benefits could be realized following TKA using robotic-assisted technology. Methods In all, 140 consecutive patients undergoing RA-TKA and 127 consecutive patients undergoing conventional TKA with minimum six-week follow-up were reviewed. Differences in visual analogue scores (VAS) for pain at rest and with activity, postoperative opiate usage, and length of stay (LOS) between the RA-TKA and conventional TKA groups were compared. Results Patients undergoing RA-TKA had lower average VAS pain scores at rest (p = 0.001) and with activity (p = 0.03) at two weeks following the index procedure. At the six-week interval, the RA-TKA group had lower VAS pain scores with rest (p = 0.03) and with activity (p = 0.02), and required 3.2 mg less morphine equivalents per day relative to the conventional group (p < 0.001). At six weeks, a significantly greater number of patients in the RA-TKA group were free of opioid use compared to the conventional TKA group; 70.7% vs 57.0% (p = 0.02). Patients in the RA-TKA group had a shorter LOS; 1.9 days versus 2.3 days (p < 0.001), and also had a greater percentage of patient discharged on postoperative day one; 41.3% vs 20.5% (p < 0.001). Conclusion Patients undergoing RA-TKA had lower pain levels at both rest and with activity, required less opioid medication, and had a shorter LOS.

The Learning Curve of Reaching the Planned Limb Alignment in Robotic-Arm-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty

“…Bhimani et al compared 140 consecutive ra-TKAs with 127 conventional TKAs with a minimum follow-up of 6 weeks and found that ra-TKA patients needed lower morphine equivalents versus conventional group by 3.2 mg per day. 16 They also found significantly lower visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores at 6 weeks associated with lower opioid consumption. 16…”

“…16 They also found significantly lower visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores at 6 weeks associated with lower opioid consumption. 16…”

Comparative Cost Analysis of Robotic-Assisted and Jig-Based Manual Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty

“…Our findings are consistent with similar patterns of pain improvement with raTKA technique noted in other studies. 14 22 We conclude that raTKA demonstrated improved value compared with mTKA based on lower 90-day EOC cost and improved quality.…”

Image-Free Handheld Robot for Total Knee Arthroplasty Improves Early Functional Recovery Compared with Conventional Total Knee Arthroplasty

“…Kayani et al [12] compared early postoperative functional outcomes between conventional jig-basedTKAand Mako RA-TKA and found that the RA-TKA group showed reduced pain and decreased analgesic requirements at POD 3. Bhimani et al [21] retrospectively reviewed 140patients undergoing Mako RA-TKAand found that RA-TKA resulted in lower pain levels at both rest and movement at 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively andrequiredless opioid medication. In this study, we reviewed postoperative pain for 14 days in NavioRA-TKA but did not nd signi cant differences in postoperative pain at rest or during movement.…”