Comparative pain relief and functional outcomes following robotic-assisted versus conventional total knee arthroplasty: a GRADE-assessed meta-analysis with meta-regression of randomized controlled trials.
Omar Abdelaziz, Ziad G Zayed, Ahmed Mohamed Altukhy et al.
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In 30 seconds
This meta-analysis of 24 randomized controlled trials involving 3,425 patients compared robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA) with conventional TKA (C-TKA). The study found no significant differences in functional outcomes or pain relief between the two techniques, although RA-TKA was associated with a longer operative time (MD 22.34 min; p < 0.01).
Key findings
- No significant differences in WOMAC function score change between RA-TKA and C-TKA (MD 0.14; p = 0.96).
- Operative time was significantly longer for RA-TKA (MD 22.34 min; p < 0.01).
- A significant improvement in Oxford Knee Score at 6 months (MD 2.25; p = 0.01), but not sustained.
- No significant differences in VAS pain score or length of hospital stay.
Why it matters
Understanding the comparative effectiveness of RA-TKA versus C-TKA is crucial for clinicians to make informed decisions regarding surgical options for knee arthroplasty, especially given the rising adoption of robotic techniques.
What to keep in mind
The certainty of evidence was low to very low across all outcomes, indicating the need for cautious interpretation.