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Updated: May 12, 2026

In Vitro Application of a Wireless Sensor in Flexion-Extension Gap Balance of Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty
Published on: May 5, 2023
Surgeon age as the major factor in recommendation of uni-compartmental knee replacement versus high tibial osteotomy:
Frederick R Dietz1, Mark G Kelman
1Frederick R Dietz, MD Department of Orthopaedic Surgery University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Abstract:
This case report concerns surgical decision making. The subject is a 59 year old male orthopaedic surgeon with medial compartment knee arthritis. Both high tibial valgus osteotomy and uni-compartmental knee replacement would be appropriate with similar outcomes reported in the literature. Surprisingly, almost all young surgeons recommended a uni-compartmental knee replacement and almost all older surgeons recommended a high tibial osteotomy. We discuss the reasons that surgeon age, which is clearly irrelevant to the optimal decision, is the dominant determinant of surgical recommendation for this patient.