Robotic assisted knee replacement gives same patient outcomes as surgeon-only procedure in clinical trial
Robotic assistance is increasingly used in knee replacement surgery worldwide: in 6% of procedures in the UK, compared with 16% in the U.S. and 42% in Australia. The aim is to help surgeons place knee replacements more precisely and tailor surgery to a patient's anatomy.
A major clinical trial has revealed that robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery provides identical patient outcomes to conventional surgery. Conducted in the UK, the RACER-Knee trial compared traditional knee replacement with surgery assisted by the Stryker Mako robotic system, the most widely used global system. After one year, patients in both groups experienced comparable recovery, mobility, and pain levels.
While robotic assistance demonstrated increased precision, it did not result in improved patient outcomes within the first year post-surgery. The trial also found no increased risk of serious adverse events associated with the robotic approach, suggesting its safety compared to conventional methods. Professor Andrew Metcalfe, from the University of Warwick, emphasized the significance of this world-leading study, stating that it will stimulate further high-quality research.
Despite the promising precision of robotic systems, the trial suggests that additional development and research are necessary to fully harness their potential benefits for patients.
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