Medial unicompartmental knee prosthesis for patients with unicompartmental gonarthrosis

The function and survival time of unicompartmental knee prostheses for patients with severe gonarthrosis have been improved the past few years by developments in their design, the instrumentarium and the surgical technique. A medial unicompartmental knee prosthesis may be indicated in patients with arthrosis of the medial tibiofemoral compartment. The prerequisites are an intact anterior cruciate ligament, an intact lateral compartment, a correctable varus axis and sufficient flexion in the knee. Contraindications are inflammatory arthropathies and a recent episode of septic arthritis. Relative contraindications are: old age, excess body weight, patellofemoral arthrosis and chondrocalcinosis. A unicompartmental knee prosthesis can be placed via a small parapatellar incision. The postoperative recovery is more rapid than following the classical open approach, while the knee function after 5 years is comparable. The knee function also seems better following a medial unicompartmental knee prosthesis than after valgusising tibial head osteotomy. The latter is still preferred for young active patients. Medial unicompartmental knee prostheses fail in 6-8% of patients. Revision to a total knee prosthesis is then the treatment of choice. In the long term, unicompartmental prostheses with a mobile bearing become loose less often than comparable prostheses with a fixed bearing.