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Joint Diseases and
Related Surgery
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Original Article · Open access

Clinical efficacy of robot-assisted total hip arthroplasty for developmental dysplasia of the hip: A meta-analysis

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Hao-tian Yin

Department of Joints, Tianjin University Tianjin Hospital (Tianjin Hospital), Tianjin, China

ORCID: 0009-0001-8208-3553

Yi-xiang Zhang

Department of Joints, Tianjin University Tianjin Hospital (Tianjin Hospital), Tianjin, China Tianjin Medical University, Clinical College of Orthopedics, Tianjin, China

ORCID: 0009-0007-9352-8937

Tao Yang

Department of Joints, Tianjin University Tianjin Hospital (Tianjin Hospital), Tianjin, China Tianjin Medical University, Clinical College of Orthopedics, Tianjin, China

ORCID: 0000-0003-2080-2628

Xin Fu

Department of Joints, Tianjin University Tianjin Hospital (Tianjin Hospital), Tianjin, China

ORCID: 0000-0002-6786-9259

Lei Wang

Department of Joints, Tianjin University Tianjin Hospital (Tianjin Hospital), Tianjin, China

ORCID: 0009-0009-8121-7036

Jun Liu

Department of Joints, Tianjin University Tianjin Hospital (Tianjin Hospital), Tianjin, China

ORCID: 0009-0002-8064-9856

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the clinical efficacy of robot-assisted total hip arthroplasty (R-THA) versus conventional total hip arthroplasty (C-THA) for the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).

Materials and methods: Eligible articles published until May 2025 were searched from the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, and Springer. Search terms included “robot-assisted”, “developmental dysplasia of the hip”, “total hip arthroplasty”, using mean differences (MDs) and risk differences (RDs) as combined variables, and selecting 95% as the confidence interval (CI).

Results: Seven clinical studies with a total of 876 patients were finally included in this study. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of cup inclination (MD=0.07; 95% CI: –0.95 ~ 1.10; p=0.89), cup anteversion (MD=–4.02; 95% CI: –9.59 ~ 1.55; p=0.16), intraoperative bleeding (MD=11.25; 95% CI: –56.02 ~ 78.52; p=0.74), operative time (MD=3.03; 95% CI: –15.66 ~ 21.72; p=0.75), postoperative complications (dislocation [RD=–0.01; 95% CI: –0.03 ~ 0.01; p=0.26], deep infection [RD=0.01; 95% CI: –0.01 ~ 0.02; p=0.37] and nerve injury [RD=0.01; 95% CI: –0.01 ~ 0.03; p=0.56], revision/reoperation [RD=–0.00; 95% CI: –0.03 ~ 0.03; p=1.00], and absolute vertical distance of center of rotation [COR] [MD=–0.50; 95% CI: –1.07 ~ 0.06; p=0.08]). However, compared to the C-THA group, the R-THA group showed significantly higher Harris Hip Score (HHS) (MD=2.17, 95% CI: 0.11 ~ 4.22, p=0.04) and more accurate placement of the horizontal COR (MD=–0.77; 95% CI: –1.21 ~ –0.32; p=0.0008).

Conclusion: In the R-THA group, the accuracy of horizontal placement of the COR was moderately improved, and the postoperative HHS was higher than that in the C-THA group, although such differences might not be obviously perceived by patients. Additionally, no significant differences were found between the two groups in other surgery-related parameters and safety.

* These authors contributed equally to this work.

Declarations

Author Contributions

Conception and design of the study: H.T.Y., Y.X.Z., T.Y., X.F., L.W., J.L.; Study selection, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment of each included study (performed independently): H.T.Y., Y.X.Z., T.Y.; Manuscript preparation: H.T.Y., Y.X.Z., T.Y., J.L.; Equal contribution: H.T.Y., Y.X.Z., T.Y.; Final approval of the article: All authors.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

Data Sharing Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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