Bi-Unicompartmental, Robot-Assisted Knee Arthroplasty

Robot-assisted surgery has had a significant effect on modern arthroplasty in the United States. Extensive research has hinted at the potential of robotics to improve different aspects of surgery (eg, higher precision and associated favorable clinical outcomes). In addition to technical advances in surgery, there is also progress regarding knee implant design, for example, implants designed to obviate the need for sacrificing cruciate ligaments of the knee during surgery, which is believed to lead to preferable functional outcomes and more natural knee motion. Robotic assistance is considered valuable in this instance, owing to higher levels of accuracy and more accurate implant alignment. In this article, we summarize advantages and issues associated with robot-assisted surgery. We briefly discuss less-invasive, ligament-retaining surgery and alternatives to traditional total knee arthroplasty. We present preliminary data regarding patient-reported outcomes from total knee arthroplasty and a less-invasive alternative treatment. We also present the specific surgical technique used in our clinic (bi-unicompartmental knee arthroplasty), which combines the advantages of modern tissue-sparing multicompartmental knee arthroplasty and robot-assisted bone preparation.