Robotic-assistance enables inexperienced surgeons to perform unicompartmental knee arthroplasties accurately on their first attempt

Barriers to the adoption of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) by new consultants could be explained by its higher revision rate, to which mal-positioned components contribute. The aim of this study was to determine whether robotic technology enables inexperienced surgeons to perform accurate UKAs when compared to current conventional methodsAfter randomisation, sixteen trainees who had never performed UKAs performed three medial UKAs (Corin Uniglide), one per week, on dry-bone simulators by either robotic (Sculptor RGA) or conventional methods. They were instructed to match a universal 3D-CT based pre-operative plan that would result from a UKA based on the conventional jigs and operating guide. The knees were laser scanned and software used to compare the planned and actual implant positions. Feedback was given to trainees between attempts. Translational and rotational positioning errors were measured in all six degrees of freedom for both componentsAt all attempts robotic medial UKAs were more ac...