Conventional Instrumentation, Computer Navigation, and Robotic Assistance Techniques in TKA

August 9, 2024 updated by: Erik N. Zeegen, MD, University of California, Los Angeles

A Prospective, Randomized, Unblinded Trial Comparing Conventional Instrumentation, Hand-Held Accelerometer Based Computer Navigation, and Robotic Assistance Techniques in Total Knee Arthroplasty

Knee osteoarthritis is a debilitating disease that can cause severe knee pain and significant limitations to patients' activities of daily living. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA), also known as knee replacement surgery, is a well-established and successful procedure for treatment of end-stage knee osteoarthritis. Over the years, TKA surgical techniques and implant technology have improved, resulting in better patient outcomes and implant survivorship. Despite continuous improvements being made to this high demand procedure, malalignment of component position is a well-known cause of post-operative complications, including knee pain, component loosening, and failure requiring revision surgery.

Advanced techniques that utilize computer navigation or robotic-arm assistance have been developed in an attempt to avoid malalignment. Both technologies were created with the goal of improving the precision of implant positioning and implant sizing in order to improve lower limb alignment and joint line alignment. The OrthoAlign KneeAlign computer assisted navigation system is a commercially available device that uses gyroscopic limb position sensing technology mounted to intramedullary and extramedullary jigs to measure bone resection cuts in TKA that ultimately dictate implant position. The Zimmer Biomet ROSA Knee System is a commercially available, FDA-approved robotic assistant for performing TKA. It uses pre-operative x-rays to create a three-dimensional image of the patient's knee anatomy, which is used to create a pre-operative template of the implants to be used and provides intra-operative guidance for bone cuts during the TKA. The robotic system also assesses the soft tissue envelope around the knee and can assist with the soft tissue balancing of the knee arthroplasty. Alternatively, it can also be used in an imageless mode where bone cuts are performed based on intra-operative mapping using anatomic landmarks. To date, there have been no prospective studies comparing the implant positioning and patient outcomes directly of the KneeAlign system with the ROSA system and conventional TKA instrumentation techniques.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

This is a prospective, single center, unblinded, randomized clinical study designed to facilitate the collection and evaluation of workflow efficiency, patient pain and function, adverse event data, and radiographic outcomes for patients undergoing TKA with one of three instrumentation techniques. This clinical study will include Persona and Legion product families using the ROSA Knee System, KneeAlign navigation system, or conventional instrumentation.

The primary objective of this study is to collect and compare clinical and surgical data using the commercially available ROSA Knee System instrumentation or OrthAlign KneeAlign system compared with conventional TKA instrumentation. The hypothesis is that the ROSA Knee System and KneeAlign system will demonstrate greater accuracy and more consistent component position and greater patient reported outcome scores compared to conventional TKA surgery. The investigators suspect that the ROSA system may be more accurate and precise than the KneeAlign system.

A maximum of 300 subjects in each arm (900 total) are to be enrolled in this study. In order to minimize selection bias, the investigator will randomize the instrumentation technique used. Randomization will be accomplished via a random number generator in a 1:1:1 ratio. The subject will know which treatment arm they are in at the time of study consent. They will be ineligible for the study if they ask to change treatment arms. The Principal Investigator and Co-Investigators will be skilled in TKA and experienced implanting Persona or Legion TKA system. Two of the investigators will only be using the Persona TKA system as this is their current standard of practice. One of the other investigators will use the Legion TKA system as this is their standard of practice. In order to avoid potential selection bias, each investigator will offer study participation to each consecutive eligible patient presenting as a candidate for primary TKA using the aforementioned implants. All study subjects will undergo preoperative clinical evaluations prior to their TKA.

An a priori power analysis was conducted using G*Power 3.1 Data Analysis program to determine the sample size based on a Cohen's f-statistic of 0.25. Power was set at 0.95 and with an alpha of 0.05. Total sample size based on these parameters was 252 patients. Considering that three surgeons, who perform approximately 250 TKAs per year each, will be involved, the investigators estimate that an ability to enroll approximately one-third of all eligible patients seeking TKA and, thus, set a goal for 300 patients to account for patient attrition after study initiation.

Through the use of either conventional, computer navigated or robotic techniques, standard operating procedures will be followed and all surgical procedures will be performed under aseptic conditions. Investigators will implant all commercially available components in compliance with corresponding labeling requirements, and in accordance with appropriate surgical technique(s).

Post-surgical management for study subjects will follow the investigator's standard of care for patients undergoing TKA (e.g., prophylactic antibiotic therapy, prevention of deep vein thrombosis, prevention of pulmonary embolism, etc.). Post-surgical rehabilitative therapy will be as prescribed by the investigator. Post-operative clinical evaluation will be conducted at approximately 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year post-operatively. Subjects will be followed post-operatively for 1 year.

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • California
      • Santa Monica, California, United States, 90404
        • UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patient is a minimum of 18 years of age
  • Independent of study participation, patient is a candidate for commercially available Persona or Legion knee components implanted in accordance with product labeling
  • Patient has participated in this study-related Informed Consent process
  • Patient is willing and able to provide written Informed Consent by signing and dating the Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee (EC) approved Informed Consent form
  • Patient is willing and able to complete scheduled study procedures and follow-up evaluations

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patient is currently participating in any other surgical intervention studies or pain management studies
  • Patient has undergone contralateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) within the last 18 months
  • Hip pathology with significant bone loss (e.g., avascular necrosis of the femoral head with collapse, severe dysplasia of the femoral head or the acetabulum)
  • Hip pathology severely limiting range of motion (e.g., arthrodesis, severe contracture, chronic severe dislocation)
  • Patient is pregnant or considered a member of a protected population (e.g., prisoner, mentally incompetent, etc.)
  • Patient has previously received partial or total knee arthroplasty for the ipsilateral knee
  • Patients with active knee joint infections (determined clinically at time of pre-op evaluation)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: ROSA
Subjects randomly assigned to this arm will undergo a primary total knee arthroplasty procedure using the ROSA Knee System.
The Zimmer Biomet ROSA Knee System is a commercially available, FDA approved robotic assistant for performing TKA. It uses preoperative x-rays to create a three-dimensional image of the patient's knee anatomy which is used to create a preoperative template of the implants to be used and provides intraoperative guidance for bone cuts during the TKA. The robotic system also assesses the soft tissue envelope around the knee and can assist with the soft tissue balancing of the knee arthroplasty. Alternatively, it can also be used in an imageless mode where bone cuts are performed based on intra-operative mapping using anatomic landmarks.
Active Comparator: KneeAlign
Subjects randomly assigned to this arm will undergo a primary total knee arthroplasty procedure using the KneeAlign navigation system.
The OrthAlign KneeAlign computer assisted navigation system is a commercially available device that uses gyroscopic limb position sensing technology mounted to intramedullary and extramedullary jigs to measure bone resection cuts in TKA that ultimately dictate implant position.
No Intervention: Conventional
Subjects randomly assigned to this arm will undergo a primary total knee arthroplasty procedure using conventional instrumentation.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Implant Positioning
Time Frame: Pre-Op
Radiographic evaluation of post-operative implant positioning compared to pre-operative planning.
Pre-Op
Implant Positioning
Time Frame: Up to 6 Hours
Radiographic evaluation of post-operative implant positioning compared to pre-operative planning.
Up to 6 Hours
Implant Positioning
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Radiographic evaluation of post-operative implant positioning compared to pre-operative planning.
6 weeks
Implant Positioning
Time Frame: 3 months
Radiographic evaluation of post-operative implant positioning compared to pre-operative planning.
3 months
Implant Positioning
Time Frame: 6 months
Radiographic evaluation of post-operative implant positioning compared to pre-operative planning.
6 months
Implant Positioning
Time Frame: 1 year
Radiographic evaluation of post-operative implant positioning compared to pre-operative planning.
1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Knee Questionnaire
Time Frame: Pre-Op
Forgotten Joint Score - 12 questions scored 1 (never) to 5 (mostly). The 12 scores are aggregated to a raw score from 12-60. This raw score is linearly transformed to a 0-100 scale and then reversed to obtain a final score. A high final score indicates a good outcome.
Pre-Op
Knee Outcome Score
Time Frame: Pre-Op
Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (KOOS, JR.) - 7 questions scored from 0 (none) to 4 (extreme). The 7 scores are aggregated to a score from 0-28 which inversely equates to an interval score of 0-100. An interval score of 0 equates to total knee disability and an interval score of 100 indicates perfect knee health.
Pre-Op
Health Questionnaire
Time Frame: Pre-Op
EuroQol-5 Dimensions-5 Level (EQ-5D-5L) - This consists of a descriptive system and a visual analogue scale (VAS). The descriptive system comprises five questions, scored 1 (no problems) to 5 (extreme problems). The score for each question can be combined into a 5-digit number that describes the patient's health state. A score of 11111 would be optimal. A score of 55555 would equate to complete disability. The VAS is a self-rated vertical scale, from 0 ("the worst health you can imagine") to 100 ("the best health you can imagine").
Pre-Op
Objective Knee Assessment
Time Frame: Pre-Op
Charnley Functional Classification - An objective knee indicator with 6 possible classifications: Unilateral Knee Arthritis; Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA), opposite knee arthritic; Bilateral TKA; TKA, but remote arthritis affecting ambulation; TKA, but medical condition affecting ambulation; Unilateral or Bilateral TKA with unilateral or bilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty.
Pre-Op
Knee Alignment
Time Frame: Pre-Op
Anatomic alignment measured on Anterior Posterior (AP) Standing x-ray
Pre-Op
Knee Instability Medial/Lateral (M/L)
Time Frame: Pre-Op
M/L instability measured in full extension
Pre-Op
Knee Instability Anterior/Posterior (A/P)
Time Frame: Pre-Op
A/P instability measured at 90 degrees
Pre-Op
Joint Motion
Time Frame: Pre-Op
Knee Range of Motion measured in degrees
Pre-Op
Knee Questionnaire
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Forgotten Joint Score - 12 questions scored 1 (never) to 5 (mostly). The 12 scores are aggregated to a raw score from 12-60. This raw score is linearly transformed to a 0-100 scale and then reversed to obtain a final score. A high final score indicates a good outcome.
6 weeks
Knee Outcome Score
Time Frame: 6 weeks
KOOS, JR. - 7 questions scored from 0 (none) to 4 (extreme). The 7 scores are aggregated to a score from 0-28 which inversely equates to an interval score of 0-100. An interval score of 0 equates to total knee disability and an interval score of 100 indicates perfect knee health.
6 weeks
Health Questionnaire
Time Frame: 6 weeks
EQ-5D-5L - This consists of a descriptive system and a visual analogue scale (VAS). The descriptive system comprises five questions, scored 1 (no problems) to 5 (extreme problems). The score for each question can be combined into a 5-digit number that describes the patient's health state. A score of 11111 would be optimal. A score of 55555 would equate to complete disability. The VAS is a self-rated vertical scale, from 0 ("the worst health you can imagine") to 100 ("the best health you can imagine").
6 weeks
Objective Knee Assessment
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Charnley Functional Classification - An objective knee indicator with 6 possible classifications: Unilateral Knee Arthritis; Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA), opposite knee arthritic; Bilateral TKA; TKA, but remote arthritis affecting ambulation; TKA, but medical condition affecting ambulation; Unilateral or Bilateral TKA with unilateral or bilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty.
6 weeks
Knee Alignment
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Anatomic alignment measured on AP Standing x-ray
6 weeks
Knee Instability M/L
Time Frame: 6 weeks
M/L instability measured in full extension
6 weeks
Knee Instability A/P
Time Frame: 6 weeks
A/P instability measured at 90 degrees
6 weeks
Joint Motion
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Knee Range of Motion measured in degrees
6 weeks
Patellar Tracking
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Investigator assessment of any abnormalities in patellar tracking post-operatively
6 weeks
Patient Satisfaction
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Question to be completed by the subject indicating their level of satisfaction with the operated knee as either Very Satisfied, Satisfied, Uncertain, or Unsatisfied.
6 weeks
Knee Questionnaire
Time Frame: 3 months
Forgotten Joint Score - 12 questions scored 1 (never) to 5 (mostly). The 12 scores are aggregated to a raw score from 12-60. This raw score is linearly transformed to a 0-100 scale and then reversed to obtain a final score. A high final score indicates a good outcome.
3 months
Knee Outcome Score
Time Frame: 3 months
KOOS, JR. - 7 questions scored from 0 (none) to 4 (extreme). The 7 scores are aggregated to a score from 0-28 which inversely equates to an interval score of 0-100. An interval score of 0 equates to total knee disability and an interval score of 100 indicates perfect knee health.
3 months
Health Questionnaire
Time Frame: 3 months
EQ-5D-5L - This consists of a descriptive system and a visual analogue scale (VAS). The descriptive system comprises five questions, scored 1 (no problems) to 5 (extreme problems). The score for each question can be combined into a 5-digit number that describes the patient's health state. A score of 11111 would be optimal. A score of 55555 would equate to complete disability. The VAS is a self-rated vertical scale, from 0 ("the worst health you can imagine") to 100 ("the best health you can imagine").
3 months
Objective Knee Assessment
Time Frame: 3 months
Charnley Functional Classification - An objective knee indicator with 6 possible classifications: Unilateral Knee Arthritis; Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA), opposite knee arthritic; Bilateral TKA; TKA, but remote arthritis affecting ambulation; TKA, but medical condition affecting ambulation; Unilateral or Bilateral TKA with unilateral or bilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty.
3 months
Knee Alignment
Time Frame: 3 months
Anatomic alignment measured on AP Standing x-ray
3 months
Knee Instability M/L
Time Frame: 3 months
M/L instability measured in full extension
3 months
Knee Instability A/P
Time Frame: 3 months
A/P instability measured at 90 degrees
3 months
Joint Motion
Time Frame: 3 months
Knee Range of Motion measured in degrees
3 months
Patellar Tracking
Time Frame: 3 months
Investigator assessment of any abnormalities in patellar tracking post-operatively
3 months
Patient Satisfaction
Time Frame: 3 months
Question to be completed by the subject indicating their level of satisfaction with the operated knee as either Very Satisfied, Satisfied, Uncertain, or Unsatisfied.
3 months
Knee Questionnaire
Time Frame: 6 months
Forgotten Joint Score - 12 questions scored 1 (never) to 5 (mostly). The 12 scores are aggregated to a raw score from 12-60. This raw score is linearly transformed to a 0-100 scale and then reversed to obtain a final score. A high final score indicates a good outcome.
6 months
Knee Outcome Score
Time Frame: 6 months
KOOS, JR. - 7 questions scored from 0 (none) to 4 (extreme). The 7 scores are aggregated to a score from 0-28 which inversely equates to an interval score of 0-100. An interval score of 0 equates to total knee disability and an interval score of 100 indicates perfect knee health.
6 months
Health Questionnaire
Time Frame: 6 months
EQ-5D-5L - This consists of a descriptive system and a visual analogue scale (VAS). The descriptive system comprises five questions, scored 1 (no problems) to 5 (extreme problems). The score for each question can be combined into a 5-digit number that describes the patient's health state. A score of 11111 would be optimal. A score of 55555 would equate to complete disability. The VAS is a self-rated vertical scale, from 0 ("the worst health you can imagine") to 100 ("the best health you can imagine").
6 months
Knee Questionnaire
Time Frame: 1 year
Forgotten Joint Score - 12 questions scored 1 (never) to 5 (mostly). The 12 scores are aggregated to a raw score from 12-60. This raw score is linearly transformed to a 0-100 scale and then reversed to obtain a final score. A high final score indicates a good outcome.
1 year
Knee Outcome Score
Time Frame: 1 year
KOOS, JR. - 7 questions scored from 0 (none) to 4 (extreme). The 7 scores are aggregated to a score from 0-28 which inversely equates to an interval score of 0-100. An interval score of 0 equates to total knee disability and an interval score of 100 indicates perfect knee health.
1 year
Health Questionnaire
Time Frame: 1 year
EQ-5D-5L - This consists of a descriptive system and a visual analogue scale (VAS). The descriptive system comprises five questions, scored 1 (no problems) to 5 (extreme problems). The score for each question can be combined into a 5-digit number that describes the patient's health state. A score of 11111 would be optimal. A score of 55555 would equate to complete disability. The VAS is a self-rated vertical scale, from 0 ("the worst health you can imagine") to 100 ("the best health you can imagine").
1 year
Objective Knee Assessment
Time Frame: 1 year
Charnley Functional Classification - An objective knee indicator with 6 possible classifications: Unilateral Knee Arthritis; Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA), opposite knee arthritic; Bilateral TKA; TKA, but remote arthritis affecting ambulation; TKA, but medical condition affecting ambulation; Unilateral or Bilateral TKA with unilateral or bilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty.
1 year
Knee Alignment
Time Frame: 1 year
Anatomic alignment measured on AP Standing x-ray
1 year
Knee Instability M/L
Time Frame: 1 year
M/L instability measured in full extension
1 year
Knee Instability A/P
Time Frame: 1 year
A/P instability measured at 90 degrees
1 year
Joint Motion
Time Frame: 1 year
Knee Range of Motion measured in degrees
1 year
Patellar Tracking
Time Frame: 1 year
Investigator assessment of any abnormalities in patellar tracking post-operatively
1 year
Patient Satisfaction
Time Frame: 1 year
Question to be completed by the subject indicating their level of satisfaction with the operated knee as either Very Satisfied, Satisfied, Uncertain, or Unsatisfied.
1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

June 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 24, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 17, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

November 29, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 13, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 9, 2024

Last Verified

August 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IRB#21-002140

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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