title: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty with use of novel patient-specific resurfacing implants and personalized jigs.
abstract: This paper describes the surgical technique with a patient-specific resurfacing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. The patient-specific implant is currently designed on the basis of data from preoperative computed tomography. The implant is provided with a set of patient-specific, disposable cutting jigs. Biomechanical and anatomic axes are factored into jigs from a scan obtained through the hip, knee, and ankle, effectively achieving pre-navigation of the cut planes without the need for a navigation system. The surgical technique is reduced to five simple, reproducible steps. After removing the articular cartilage, the knee is balanced to determine the correct amount of tibial resection; this is followed by femoral preparation, verification of balancing and tibial preparation, and trial and cementing of the implant. The introduction of personalized three-dimensional image-derived resurfacing implants, as well as personalized single-use instrumentation, has the potential to change the common surgical practice of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. Patient-specific resurfacing implants enable a femoral bone-preserving approach and enhance cortical bone support on the tibia, overcoming critical design limitations of commercial off-the-shelf implants. Patient-specific resurfacing implants can restore normal anatomy, the position of the joint line, and normal joint function, with the potential to result in more normal knee kinematics.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic and Arthritis Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 850 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA. wfitz@partners.org
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fitz
mesh_terms: D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000601:surgery*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011474:Prosthesis Design