Comparative Analysis of Joint Awareness and Functional Outcomes in Robotic vs Conventional Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Study with 1-year Follow-up

Aim and background: This study aimed to compare clinical and functional outcomes, including joint awareness, knee function, and pain perception, between robotic-assisted and conventional manual total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis.With rising TKA surgeries and advances in robotics, assessing their impact on patient outcomes in the Indian population is essential.Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted with 200 patients undergoing TKA from January to March 2023.Patients were divided into two groups: robotic-assisted TKA (Cuvis system, 100 patients) and conventional TKA (subvastus approach, 100 patients).Data collected included age, Body Mass Index (BMI), gender, and preoperative scores on the Visual analog scale (VAS), Oxford knee score (OKS), and Forgotten joint score (FJS).Postoperative outcomes were assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months.Results: Both groups completed a 1-year follow-up.At the 3-and 6-month follow-ups, no notable differences were observed in OKS between the groups.However, at 1 year, the robotic-assisted group showed a higher improvement in OKS compared to the conventional TKA group.FJS scores at 1 year also favored the robotic-assisted group, indicating higher satisfaction and reduced joint awareness during daily activities.As measured by VAS, early postoperative pain scores were markedly lower in the robotic group on days 1 and 3 post-surgery, though pain levels equalized between groups by the 1-month follow-up.Complications were minimal, with no notable differences between the groups.Conclusion: Robotic-assisted TKA was associated with higher satisfaction (better FJS scores), reduced early postoperative pain (lower VAS scores), and improved functional outcomes (better OKS scores) after 1 year.These findings suggest that robotic-assisted TKA is a favorable option over conventional TKA in enhancing patient outcomes.Clinical significance: Robotic-assisted TKA offers enhanced joint functionality and patient satisfaction, with evidence of reduced early postoperative discomfort, presenting a promising alternative to conventional TKA in knee arthroplasty.