Unicondylar arthroplasty. A survivorship analysis.

A retrospective review of 52 cemented unicompartmental arthroplasties was undertaken to determine whether unicompartmental arthroplasty is an acceptable procedure for patients with isolated single-compartment disease. The average follow-up period was 8.3 years with a predicted survivorship of 93.75% at 10 years post-arthroplasty. Results comparable to those for tricompartmental design were achieved at similar follow-up intervals. While stressing the importance of patient selection in this procedure, the authors feel that unicompartmental arthroplasty is a viable alternative to tricompartmental arthroplasty in the treatment of single-compartment disease. Further long-term survivorship analysis is necessary to conclude that unicompartmental results are equal to those of tricompartmental design.