Long-term results with a lateral unicondylar replacement.
While the literature suggests lateral unicondylar knee arthroplasty (UKA) improves function in the short- and medium-term, it is less clear on longer-term function. We asked (1) whether lateral UKA improved longer-term Knee Society scores and return to previous activity level); (2) whether there were any concerning longer-term radiographic findings (the Knee Society roentgenographic evaluation and scoring system); and (3) whether lateral UKA was durable as measured by survivorship to revision at 10 and 16 years. We retrospectively reviewed 39 patients with 40 lateral cemented metal-backed UKA. The patients had a mean age of 61 years at surgery. The etiologies were primary osteoarthritis in 24 knees, posttraumatic in 12 cases, and osteonecrosis in four cases. We performed clinical and radiographic evaluations at a minimum followup of 3 years (mean, 12.6 years; range, 3-23 years). Prostheses survivorship was 92% at 10 years and 84% at 16 years. Despite the limited number of indications and technical considerations, our data suggest lateral UKA is a reasonable alternative for isolated lateral femorotibial compartment disease.


METHODS
Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique, Center for Arthritis Surgery, Hôpital Sainte-Marguerite, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France. jean-noel.argenson@ap-hm.fr
Jean-Noël A
JN
Argenson
Sebastien
S
Parratte
Antoine
A
Bertani
Xavier
X
Flecher
Jean-Manuel
JM
Aubaniac
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome