OBJECTIVES: Clinical and functional outcome of the knee after Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (UKA) and its correlation with lower limb mechanical axis correction.MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have reviewed the outcome of 29 UKA, corresponding to 29 patients, with an average follow-up of 4.5 years (3-6 years). The distribution was, 21 women and 8 men, 11 unicompartmental osteoarthritis, 17 femoral condyle necrosis and 1 tibial plateau necrosis, and 27 medial versus 2 lateral affected compartments. The clinical-functional situation of the knees was assessed through the Knee Society Score (KSS), and the mechanical axis through long standing film. To calculate the statistical non-parametric correlation between the different parameters, Spearman's coefficient was used.RESULTS: In the last review, the increases in the mean clinical KSS and functional KSS were significantly different, with +31.24 (±15.7) and +43.66 (±18.4) points, respectively. The mean change in the femorotibial angle was 2°±4°. We did not find any correlation with statistical significance between the average increases obtained in KS scores and: the alignment of the knee before and after the surgery; the thickness of the inserted polyethylene; the variation of the posterior tibial inclination; Insall-Salvati's index. There was no statistically significant association between the variation in the total KS score and the type of implant or the surgical technique used.CONCLUSION: We did not find any correlation between the clinical results and the radiological measurements in this population.
Aged Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee