OE Journal

ORIGINAL ANALYSIS

Evaluation of Clinical and Safety Outcomes of Robotic Arm-assisted Versus Conventional Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty has generated growing interest, and five randomized trials give a clearer picture of how it compares with conventional UKA. Across three robotic systems—Mako, Navio, and the now-discontinued Acrobot—results were broadly consistent: patients experienced similar improvements in pain, function, and joint awareness regardless of technique. Revision rates were also comparable, suggesting no major safety advantage. However, every trial was industry-funded, and none could blind participants, which raises the risk of bias. With small cohorts and varied follow-up durations, the evidence remains too limited to show meaningful clinical benefit. More independent, high-quality RCTs with larger samples are needed to determine whether robotic assistance offers value beyond improved implant positioning.