Handheld robotics for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

Abstract

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) can result in considerable pain relief, improvement in functional outcomes, and long-term durability when patients are appropriately selected, a sound implant design utilized, and accurate soft tissue balance as well as component and limb alignment achieved. The use of conventional instrumentation for minimally invasive UKA results in a relatively high incidence of variability in component alignment, which may predispose to premature implant failure. Semiautonomous robotic systems, including a handheld robotic sculpting tool, have been shown to optimize component and limb alignment as well as soft tissue balance. This chapter will review the role of minimally invasive robotic surgery with an image-free handheld sculpting tool (Navio PFS [Precision Free-Hand Sculptor], Smith and Nephew, Memphis, TN).