Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has gained growing popularity over the last
decades. The posterior tibial slope (PTS) has been shown to play a significant role
for knee biomechanics and is thought to be crucial for clinical function of the UKA.
We evaluated the clinical outcome at mid-term follow-up after UKA. Furthermore, the
reconstruction of the individual PTS was analyzed. A total of 91 consecutive patients
undergoing medial UKA for osteoarthritis were included. Patients were contacted by
telephone for a survival analysis at a minimum of 30 months after surgery. Patient-oriented
questionnaires and Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) were obtained. A retrospective
chart review and radiological analysis of component alignment were performed for all
patients before and at 6 weeks after surgery. Of 91 patients (93 knees) undergoing
UKA, 69 patients (70 knees) were available for clinical follow-up after a mean of
56.0 (range 31–81) months post-surgery. The clinical results of the examined patients
in the present study showed mean subscale scores of the KOOS and Western Ontario and
McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index between 71 and 91%. Overall 7 of 91 patients
were revised during the course of follow-up period and underwent total knee arthroplasty.
A Kaplan–Meier analysis showed a survival rate for UKA of 90.5% after 48 months. Calculated
implant survival was 75.9 months (95% confidence interval 72.3–79.6) at the mean.
The radiographic analysis of pre- and postoperative PTS showed no differences (p = 0.113).UKA for osteoarthritis of the medial knee compartment shows encouraging
clinical results at mid-term follow-up. The individual PTS could be reconstructed
within acceptable ranges. This is a retrospective therapeutic study with Level IV.
Keywords
unicompartmental knee arthroplasty - all-polyethylene - metal-backed - tibial component
- posterior tibial slope
