title: Lateral unicompartimental knee arthroplasty: indications, technique and short-medium term results.
abstract: Lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is a valid alternative treatment in the event of arthritis confined to the lateral compartment. This paper examines its indications, technique and short to medium-term results. A total of 159 Miller-Galante cemented UKA prostheses (Zimmer, Warsaw, Indiana) were implanted consecutively (131 medial and 28 lateral) by the same surgeon. This study investigates 28 lateral UKAs in 27 patients. Twenty-five implants in 24 patients (including a subject operated bilaterally) were followed up for 12-60 months. Three patients were discarded on account of to short a follow-up period. The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score was used to compare the pre- and post-operative results of the lateral UKA patients. The HSS score improved from a pre-op mean of 59.92 (range 48-68) to 88.04 (range 71-95) at the last follow-up. There was a positive increase in the pain, function and ROM components of the score. The lateral UKA prosthesis can be regarded as a sound alternative to total knee replacement. Correct patient selection on the basis of optimum surgical indications, however, is essential.
authors.affiliation: Sports Traumatology and Arthroscopic Surgery Unit, Galeazzi Orthopedics Institute, R.Galeazzi street 4, 20161, Milan, Italy. volpi.piero@libero.it
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Volpi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marinoni
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bait
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Denti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000601:surgery; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology