Unicompartmental replacement with the Marmor Modular knee: operative procedure and results

Unicompartmental arthroplasty using the Marmor Modular knee was performed in 27 knees of 24 patients--three men and 21 women--aged 51-82 years (average age 68.9 years). The disease was osteoarthritis in 19 knees, steroid arthropathy in two knees, Charcot joint in three knees, and rheumatoid arthritis in three knees. Medial replacement was done in 24 knees and lateral replacement in three knees. Follow-up was from 2-7 years (average 4 years 9 months). Post-operatively, 14 knees were reported to be free of pain and 11 only occasionally mildly painful. Walking distance improved to more than 1 km in 17 patients. The knee score improved from 40.4 to 72.2 points (p less than 0.01). Complications included two knees with loosening due to postoperative limb malalignment; there were no instances of infection or fracture.