Incidence of soft tissue releases in robotic assisted cementless TKA with mechanical alignment and flexion gap balancing

Abstract Background To ensure the success of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), precise bone cuts and a well-balanced soft tissue envelope are crucial. Soft tissue release may be necessary, subject to various factors. Therefore, documenting the type, frequency, and necessity of soft tissue releases can...

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Main Authors: Nanchappan Selvanathan, Femi E. Ayeni, Rami Sorial
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-06-01
Series:Arthroplasty
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s42836-023-00188-1
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author Nanchappan Selvanathan
Femi E. Ayeni
Rami Sorial
author_facet Nanchappan Selvanathan
Femi E. Ayeni
Rami Sorial
author_sort Nanchappan Selvanathan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background To ensure the success of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), precise bone cuts and a well-balanced soft tissue envelope are crucial. Soft tissue release may be necessary, subject to various factors. Therefore, documenting the type, frequency, and necessity of soft tissue releases can establish a benchmark for comparing different alignment techniques and philosophies and evaluating their outcomes. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that robotic-assisted knee surgery requires minimal soft tissue release. Methods We prospectively documented and retrospectively reviewed the soft tissue releases employed in securing ligament balance in the first 175 patients who received robotic-assisted TKAs at Nepean Hospital. ROSA was utilized in all surgeries with the aim of restoring mechanical coronal alignment, with a flexion gap balancing technique. Surgeries were performed between December 2019 to August 2021 by a single surgeon who used a standard medial parapatellar approach without a tourniquet, and the cementless persona prosthesis. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 6 months post-surgery. Soft tissue releases included any form of medial release for varus knee, posterolateral release for valgus knee and PCL fenestration or sacrifice. Results There were 131 female and 44 male patients, aged between 48 to 89 years (average 60 years). The preoperative HKA ranged from 22 degrees varus to 28 degrees valgus, with 71% of patients presenting with a varus deformity. For the whole group, the no need for soft tissue release was documented in 123 patients (70.3%), small fenestrated releases of PCL in 27 (15.4%), sacrifice of PCL in 8 (4.5%), medial releases in 4 (2.3%) and posterolateral releases in 13 (7.4%). In 29.7% of patients in whom a soft tissue release was necessary for balance, over half were/received minor fenestrations of the PCL. Outcomes to date included no revisions or impending revisions, 2 MUAs (1%), and Oxford knee scores averaged 40 at 6 months. Conclusion We concluded that Robot technology enhanced the precision of bone cuts and allowed for titration of required soft tissue releases to achieve optimal balance.
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spelling doaj.art-b6d3905913864bd28912a28869d3ebb62023-06-11T11:05:56ZengBMCArthroplasty2524-79482023-06-01511710.1186/s42836-023-00188-1Incidence of soft tissue releases in robotic assisted cementless TKA with mechanical alignment and flexion gap balancingNanchappan Selvanathan0Femi E. Ayeni1Rami Sorial2Department of Orthopaedics, Nepean HospitalNepean Institute of Academic Surgery, Nepean Clinical School, The University of SydneyDepartment of Orthopaedics, Nepean HospitalAbstract Background To ensure the success of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), precise bone cuts and a well-balanced soft tissue envelope are crucial. Soft tissue release may be necessary, subject to various factors. Therefore, documenting the type, frequency, and necessity of soft tissue releases can establish a benchmark for comparing different alignment techniques and philosophies and evaluating their outcomes. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that robotic-assisted knee surgery requires minimal soft tissue release. Methods We prospectively documented and retrospectively reviewed the soft tissue releases employed in securing ligament balance in the first 175 patients who received robotic-assisted TKAs at Nepean Hospital. ROSA was utilized in all surgeries with the aim of restoring mechanical coronal alignment, with a flexion gap balancing technique. Surgeries were performed between December 2019 to August 2021 by a single surgeon who used a standard medial parapatellar approach without a tourniquet, and the cementless persona prosthesis. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 6 months post-surgery. Soft tissue releases included any form of medial release for varus knee, posterolateral release for valgus knee and PCL fenestration or sacrifice. Results There were 131 female and 44 male patients, aged between 48 to 89 years (average 60 years). The preoperative HKA ranged from 22 degrees varus to 28 degrees valgus, with 71% of patients presenting with a varus deformity. For the whole group, the no need for soft tissue release was documented in 123 patients (70.3%), small fenestrated releases of PCL in 27 (15.4%), sacrifice of PCL in 8 (4.5%), medial releases in 4 (2.3%) and posterolateral releases in 13 (7.4%). In 29.7% of patients in whom a soft tissue release was necessary for balance, over half were/received minor fenestrations of the PCL. Outcomes to date included no revisions or impending revisions, 2 MUAs (1%), and Oxford knee scores averaged 40 at 6 months. Conclusion We concluded that Robot technology enhanced the precision of bone cuts and allowed for titration of required soft tissue releases to achieve optimal balance.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42836-023-00188-1Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplastyTKAROSAMechanical alignmentSoft tissue release
spellingShingle Nanchappan Selvanathan
Femi E. Ayeni
Rami Sorial
Incidence of soft tissue releases in robotic assisted cementless TKA with mechanical alignment and flexion gap balancing
Arthroplasty
Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty
TKA
ROSA
Mechanical alignment
Soft tissue release
title Incidence of soft tissue releases in robotic assisted cementless TKA with mechanical alignment and flexion gap balancing
title_full Incidence of soft tissue releases in robotic assisted cementless TKA with mechanical alignment and flexion gap balancing
title_fullStr Incidence of soft tissue releases in robotic assisted cementless TKA with mechanical alignment and flexion gap balancing
title_full_unstemmed Incidence of soft tissue releases in robotic assisted cementless TKA with mechanical alignment and flexion gap balancing
title_short Incidence of soft tissue releases in robotic assisted cementless TKA with mechanical alignment and flexion gap balancing
title_sort incidence of soft tissue releases in robotic assisted cementless tka with mechanical alignment and flexion gap balancing
topic Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty
TKA
ROSA
Mechanical alignment
Soft tissue release
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s42836-023-00188-1
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AT ramisorial incidenceofsofttissuereleasesinroboticassistedcementlesstkawithmechanicalalignmentandflexiongapbalancing