Meniscal-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. An 11-year clinical study

From 1977 through 1987, 21 meniscal-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasties (UKAs) were performed on 20 patients in preference to a distal femoral or proximal tibial osteotomy for unicompartmental knee arthritis. Preoperative diagnoses were osteoarthritis (14 cases), posttraumatic arthritis (5 cases), and rheumatoid arthritis (1 case). Eighteen UKAs (7 lateral, 11 medial) were followed for 24 to 132 months (mean, 34). Using the New Jersey Orthopedic Hospital Knee Scoring Scale, good to excellent clinical results were found in 16 (89%) of the UKAs followed for at least two years. These scores represent significant improvement over preoperative evaluation, (paired t test, P less than or equal to .05). No statistical difference was noted in postoperative results between the lateral or medial arthroplasties (Student's t test, P less than or equal to .05).