Lateral unicompartmental knee replacement: Long-term survival study

Abstract

Unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR) has well known advantages over total knee replacement (TKR), such as less invasiveness, respect of both cruciate ligaments, better function, and less morbidity. However, the survival rates of UKR are typically inferior to those obtained with TKR. The higher failure rate of the former has been ascribed to the effects of degeneration in other compartments and to polyethylene wear. Despite this history, recent surveys have documented an evident improvement in the survivorship rate probably based on the large diffusion of the UKR and in a consequent improvement in the indications, surgical technique, and prostheses. However, long-term clinical results, which are the hardest to obtain, are needed to confirm the positive short-term experience (Fig. 7.1) [1-3] (unpublished data).