Modular bicompartmental knee arthroplasty with robotic arm assistance.

Modular bicompartmental arthroplasty is an emerging knee-resurfacing approach that provides a conservative alternative to total knee arthroplasty. Isolated bicompartmental arthritis involving the medial or lateral and patellofemoral compartments, but with no significant deformity or bone deficiency, preserved motion, and intact cruciate ligaments, can be effectively managed with this treatment method. For the many young and active patients with isolated bicompartmental arthritis, given the potential durability of the procedure and the prosthesis, it is appropriate to use an approach that is more conservative than total knee arthroplasty. Robotic arm assistance for modular bicompartmental arthroplasty optimizes component position and alignment, which may improve system performance and long-term durability. In addition, a percentage of patients who undergo isolated unicompartmental or patellofemoral arthroplasty may later develop progressive arthritis in an unresurfaced compartment. Their cases may be effectively managed with a staged modular approach to resurfacing the degenerating compartment, but additional study is needed.