MIS unicondylar knee arthroplasty with the extramedullary technique

Abstract

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) unicondylar knee arthroplasty has gained popularity over the recent years following the introduction of the limited approach by Repicci and Eberle [1]. Their limited approach was essentially a freehand technique that used limited instrumentation. Over the years there have been modifications in the surgical instruments in order to perform the procedure accurately and reproducibly through an MIS approach. The Miller Galante unicondylar prosthesis (Zimmer, Warsaw, IN) introduced intramedullary instrumentation and most recently extramedullary instrumentation [2]. The smaller and reliable modified instruments clearly help in bone preparation and component position producing clinical results that are comparable with a conventional procedure [3, 4]. Improved instrumentation allows the surgeon to operate through a minimally invasive arthrotomy, without everting the patella, and permits more accurate bone resection. It is the refinements in instrumentation that have contributed to successful clinical results.