Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the outcomes of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) when assisted by a robotic arm compared with the conventional approach. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including 96 patients who underwent TKA, assigned to either the robotic-assisted (RA) group or a conventional technique (CT) groups. All surgeries were performed without the use of a tourniquet and included administration of intravenous tranexamic acid. Patients were matched based on sex, age, and preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Ht) values. Key outcomes evaluated were perioperative blood loss (assessed through changes in Hb and Ht), operative duration, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications up to 6 months. RESULTS: There were 34 patients from each group successfully matched for analysis. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding Hb or Ht reduction (RA: Hb -2.27 ± 1.21 g/dL, Ht -6.56 ± 3.43%; vs. CT: Hb -2.00 ± 1.07 g/dL, Ht -5.85 ± 3.26%; p > 0.05). The mean surgical time was also similar (RA: 108.9 ± 20.8 vs. CT: 111.8 ± 26.2 min; p = 0.905). Notably, patients in the RA group experienced a shorter hospitalization period (median: 2 vs. 2.5 days; OR = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.03-0.57; p = 0.008). Incidence of postoperative complications within 6 months did not differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSION: Robotic-assisted TKA was not associated with measurable improvements in blood loss, operative time, or postoperative complications. However, it contributed to a reduction in hospital stay compared with the conventional technique.