Robot-assisted knee replacement surgery was more precise than surgeon-only procedures but did not lead to better patient outcomes, according to a study published Aug. 20 in The Lancet.
Researchers recruited 339 patients being treated by 33 surgeons at 10 hospitals across the U.K. and randomly assigned them to surgeon-only or robot-assisted knee replacement surgery. Patients in both groups had similar recovery, mobility and pain levels one year after surgery.
Robot-assisted procedures were not associated with an increased risk of serious side effects. Robotic assistance accounts for 16% of knee replacement procedures in the U.S., the study said.