Photo: UMass Memorial
A study led by David C. Ayers, MD, chair emeritus and distinguished professor of orthopedics & physical rehabilitation, has found that robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is associated with higher patient satisfaction and improved quality of life compared with conventional techniques one year after surgery.
This research was presented at the 2026 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting and selected as a meeting highlight. The finding reflects a broader shift toward technology-assisted surgical planning and execution. Over the past decade, use of robotic-assisted knee replacement has expanded rapidly, with procedure volumes increasing more than sixfold between 2015 and 2020.
In a prospective analysis of more than 1,100 individuals undergoing TKA, investigators found that patients treated with robotic assistance experienced greater improvements in quality of life at one year. Robotic assisted patients were also more likely to report satisfaction with their outcomes compared with conventional TKA patients (90.4 percent vs. 84.9 percent). After accounting for differences in patient characteristics—such as age, gender, underlying health conditions, preoperative scores, insurance type and body mass index—patients undergoing robotic-assisted and computer-navigated surgery were 3.2 times more likely to report satisfaction.
According to Dr. Ayers, the primary goal of knee replacement is not simply technical success, but meaningful pain relief, improved function and return to desired activities. The findings suggest that robotic tools may help achieve these outcomes by enabling patient-specific planning and intraoperative adjustments tailored to individual anatomy, to better achieve those goals.
“The precision and reproducibility of robotic systems may contribute to improved patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction. By enhancing implant positioning and surgical consistency, these technologies may reduce variability that can influence recovery and long-term outcomes,” said Ayers.
While the findings are encouraging, Ayers emphasized the need for further validation through multicenter, randomized studies to determine the generalizability of these results across diverse patient populations and clinical settings.
