Intra-incisional metaphyseal pins safe for use in patients undergoing robotic-assisted TKA

In a recent study conducted by researchers from the Cleveland Clinic, the use of intra-incisional metaphyseal pins during robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was found to be associated with low rates of periprosthetic fracture and infection. This finding suggests that the procedure may be a safe option for patients undergoing robotic-assisted TKA.

This study, published in the Journal of Arthroplasty by Stetzer M. and colleagues, contributes to the growing body of research on surgical techniques in orthopedics and their impact on patient outcomes. The study included data from 2,343 patients who underwent robotic-assisted TKA, and the patients had 4-mm intra-incisional bone array pins fixed into the femur and tibia. The researchers examined outcomes related to periprosthetic fractures, infections, and reoperations.

The results of the study revealed that at 90 days postoperatively, only 0.09% of patients (equivalent to 2 patients) experienced a pin-related periprosthetic fracture. In addition, 1.4% of patients developed either a superficial infection (20 patients) or a deep infection (13 patients). Among the 1,655 patients with complete one-year follow-up data, the reoperation rate was 1.8% (29 patients).

The most common reasons for reoperation included deep infection (0.83%), superficial infection (0.18%), periprosthetic fracture (0.12%), mechanical symptoms (0.12%), instability (0.12%), and hematoma (0.12%).

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that intra-incisional pin placement appears to be a safe technique with a very low incidence of fractures associated with pin placement. This information may be valuable for orthopedic surgeons and patients considering robotic-assisted TKA. It highlights the importance of safety and low complication rates in robotic-assisted TKA, providing valuable insights for orthopedic surgeons and the medical community.

Reference:

Stetzer, M., Bircher, J., Klika, A. K., Rullán, P. J., Bloomfield, M. M., Krebs, V. E., Molloy, R. M., & Piuzzi, N. S. Intra-incisional pin placement is safe for robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty. The Journal of Arthroplasty,2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2023.10.050