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Orthopaedics · UK

NAVIO / Cori robotic knee surgery, imageless and precise.

Smith + Nephew’s handheld robotic knee platform - used by a BASK-registered consultant knee surgeon for total and partial knee replacement, without the need for a pre-operative CT.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What Cori robotic knee surgery costs in the UK.

Available NHS-funded at Cori-equipped hospitals. Indicative private ranges across our UK partner network.

In short

£15,000–£20,000, home after one to two nights.

Procedure Indicative range
Cori robotic-assisted TKR (private) £15,000–£20,000
Cori robotic-assisted UKA (private) £11,000–£16,000
Conventional TKR (comparator) £11,000–£18,000
MAKO robotic-arm TKR (comparator) £16,000–£22,000
Conventional UKA (comparator) £9,000–£14,000
Consultant knee consultation £200–£400

Prices vary by hospital, by which consultant does the case, by implant and length of stay. Cori is typically around £1,000 per case cheaper than MAKO because there is no pre-op CT and a smaller OR footprint.

The problem

The right platform, the right surgeon, the right knee.

Robotic knee surgery is a busy market - MAKO, ROSA, Velys, Cori, plus conventional and computer-navigated. The right answer depends on your knee, not on which platform the hospital happens to have.

  • Cori vs MAKO - which fits?

    Cori is imageless and handheld, so no pre-op CT. MAKO has a robotic arm and pre-op templating. We help you weigh both against your knee.

  • Partial or total?

    For isolated compartment wear, a Cori UKA is a smaller, quicker operation. For multi-compartment wear a TKR is the right answer.

  • Not sure it is time yet?

    Injections, physiotherapy and weight loss buy time in early arthritis. We say so before you agree to surgery.

When it helps

When Cori robotic knee surgery is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.

  • End-stage knee osteoarthritis

    Bone-on-bone arthritis with pain, stiffness and lost function despite injections, weight loss and physiotherapy.

  • Isolated medial compartment OA

    Wear confined to the inside of the knee, ligaments intact - the classic Cori UKA candidate.

  • Isolated lateral or patellofemoral OA

    Wear confined to the outside of the knee or under the kneecap - a partial knee replacement fits better than a full TKR.

  • Post-traumatic knee arthritis

    Arthritis after a previous fracture, meniscectomy or ACL injury, once conservative options are exhausted.

  • Inflammatory arthritis of the knee

    Rheumatoid or other inflammatory arthritis with joint destruction - a robotic TKR is often the right answer.

  • Wanting to avoid a pre-op CT

    Cori registers your knee in theatre with a tracked probe, so no pre-op CT is needed - helpful for younger patients or those avoiding extra radiation.

  • Failed conservative treatment

    Steroid or hyaluronic injections, physiotherapy and weight loss have not helped - surgery is the sensible next step.

  • Red flag: hot, swollen, painful knee

    A red, hot, exquisitely tender knee with fever is a septic joint - same-day A&E, not a clinic booking.

Procedure options

Cori is one platform of several.

What each option on the table actually involves - and which fits which knee.

  • Cori robotic-assisted TKR

    Total knee replacement with handheld robotic burr. Imageless registration, intraoperative planning and robotic-guided bone cuts.

  • Cori robotic-assisted UKA

    Partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement - medial, lateral or patellofemoral - with intraoperative planning and robotic bone preparation.

  • Cori bi-cruciate retaining TKR

    A TKR that preserves both cruciate ligaments - Cori is one of the platforms that supports this technique for a more natural feel.

  • MAKO robotic-arm TKR (comparator)

    Stryker CT-based robotic arm platform with pre-op templating. Different workflow, comparable functional outcomes.

  • ROSA robotic knee (comparator)

    Zimmer Biomet CT-based robotic system.

  • Conventional TKR / UKA

    Jig-based manual technique without robotics. Still an excellent operation in experienced hands and at lower cost.

  • Computer-assisted navigation TKR

    Navigation-only, without a robotic burr - a step between conventional and full robotics.

  • Consultation only

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Cori robotic knee surgery has the same complication profile as conventional TKR or UKA. The things worth planning are the ERAS pathway, VTE prophylaxis and a structured rehab plan.

  • Same complication profile as conventional TKR/UKA

    Infection sits at around 1–2%, DVT and PE around 1–2% with prophylaxis, plus periprosthetic fracture, aseptic loosening long-term, stiffness needing manipulation, and patellar issues.

  • Pin-site fracture is rare

    Bone-mounted trackers use small pins in the femur and tibia. Fracture through a pin site is very rare and mitigated by careful pin placement.

  • OR time is longer at first

    Early in a surgeon’s Cori experience, operating time is a little longer. With volume it becomes comparable to conventional surgery.

  • Bone-cut and implant accuracy

    Published data show Cori delivers bone-cut and implant positioning accuracy comparable to CT-based robotic systems like MAKO and ROSA.

  • Functional outcomes at 2–5 years

    Comparable functional and patient-reported outcomes to conventional TKR/UKA and to MAKO at two to five years. Long-term data are still maturing.

  • No pre-op CT means no extra radiation

    Cori is imageless - the knee is mapped in theatre with a tracked probe. No pre-op CT dose, useful for younger patients or repeat imaging.

  • Residual pain - the “unhappy TKR”

    Around 1 in 5 TKR patients report some ongoing discomfort or stiffness. Robotics narrows this but does not eliminate it.

  • ERAS pathway - mobilise day 0–1

    You are up with the physiotherapist the same day or the morning after. LMWH for VTE prophylaxis, and a structured rehab plan on discharge.

  • Red flags

    Fever, spreading redness, calf pain and swelling, sudden breathlessness or heavy wound discharge are not normal - call the clinic or A&E the same day.

Reading your operation note

Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever platform was used, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant knee surgeon reviewing a patient’s Cori robotic operation notes

A quiet reminder

Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication, side and implant chosen

    Which knee, why surgery was needed (OA, inflammatory, post-traumatic), and which implant system and size were used.

  2. 02 Technique

    Approach, registration and robotic plan

    The surgical approach (medial parapatellar), how the knee was registered with the Cori probe, and the planned alignment and resection depths.

  3. 03 Findings

    Ligament balance and intraoperative notes

    Ligament balance in flexion and extension, cartilage findings, and anything unexpected - cyst, meniscal remnant, patellar tracking.

  4. 04 Impression

    Recovery, weight-bearing and rehab plan

    Read this first: weight-bearing status, expected recovery milestones, VTE prophylaxis, and the physiotherapy plan.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Cover for robotic knee surgery varies by insurer - most fund a TKR or UKA once conservative treatment has failed, though the specific platform (Cori, MAKO, ROSA) can affect authorisation.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about NAVIO / Cori robotic knee surgery.

Quick answers on how Cori differs from MAKO, cost, outcomes and recovery.

  • What is the NAVIO / Cori robotic knee system?

    NAVIO is Smith + Nephew’s handheld robotic system for knee replacement, superseded in 2020 by the Cori Surgical System. A tracked handheld burr, guided by intraoperative point-cloud registration, does the bone preparation to a plan built in theatre - no pre-op CT is required.

  • How is Cori different from MAKO or ROSA?

    MAKO (Stryker) and ROSA (Zimmer) are CT-based robotic-arm systems - you have a pre-op CT and the plan is templated before theatre. Cori is imageless and handheld - the knee is mapped in theatre with a tracked probe. Cori avoids pre-op CT radiation, has a smaller OR footprint and lower per-case cost; MAKO and ROSA allow more pre-op planning.

  • Do I need a pre-operative CT scan for Cori knee surgery?

    No. Cori uses imageless intraoperative registration - a tracked probe maps hundreds of points on your femur and tibia during surgery. You will have the usual weight-bearing X-rays and sometimes an MRI, but no CT.

  • Is Cori robotic knee surgery available on the NHS?

    Yes, at NHS hospitals that have invested in the Cori platform, funding is standard. Availability varies by trust - some centres offer Cori TKR and UKA routinely, others only for selected cases.

  • How much does private Cori robotic knee surgery cost in the UK?

    Roughly £15,000–£20,000 for a Cori TKR and £11,000–£16,000 for a Cori UKA, all-in. Conventional TKR runs £11,000–£18,000, MAKO TKR £16,000–£22,000.

  • Are the outcomes as good as MAKO or conventional surgery?

    Published series show bone-cut and implant positioning accuracy comparable to CT-based robotic systems, and functional and patient-reported outcomes comparable to conventional TKR/UKA and to MAKO at two to five years. Long-term data continue to mature.

  • Who is a suitable candidate for Cori robotic knee surgery?

    Any patient who would be suitable for a standard TKR or UKA can be considered for Cori. It is particularly worth considering if you want to avoid a pre-op CT (younger patients, repeat imaging), or need a partial knee replacement.

  • What is the recovery like?

    You mobilise with the physiotherapist on day 0 or 1 under an ERAS pathway, stay one to two nights, and follow a structured outpatient physiotherapy plan for six to twelve weeks. Most patients drive again at four to six weeks and return to desk work at four to six weeks.

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