Long-term results of Marmor arthroplasty in varus osteoarthritic knees.

Twenty-one osteoarthritic knees with an average varus angulation of 13 degrees were followed up for 7-10 years after resurfacing with the Marmor compartmental knee arthroplasty. There were 14 unicompartmental and 7 bicompartmental replacements, a total of 28 implants. The knees were assessed clinically according to the Hospital for Special Surgery knee rating scale. At the latest follow-up, 19 of these cases were still excellent or good. None of the knees had been corrected by more than the tightness of the ligaments allowed, and a varus inclination of an average of 2 degrees remained after operation and at the latest follow-up. Radiolucency of more than 2 mm around the tibial component was found in 2 out of 28 of the cases, but this was not associated with pain or disability, nor was wire breakage, found in 6 out of 28, or positional changes of the tibial component, which were seen in five patients. It is concluded that the Marmor compartmental knee arthroplasty is still indicated in osteoarthritic varus knees.