Minimally invasive unicondylar arthroplasty: eight-year follow-up.

Abstract

This retrospective study reports the senior author's (J.A.R.) results with minimally invasive unicondylar knee arthroplasty (UKA). A total of 136 UKAs were performed in 1992 for the treatment of unicondylar osteoarthrosis. The surgical technique involves a limited medial parapatellar incision that reduces perioperative morbidity and bone preparation techniques that emphasize preservation of bone for future arthroplasty procedures. At 8 years, 4% of Ahlback stage 2 and 3 patients had undergone revision. Minimally invasive UKA provides a low morbidity alternative treatment for symptomatic medial compartment osteoarthritis.