[Introduction - questions]

The purpose of this panel discussion is to answer the questions raised in 1994 about the indications for unicompartmental knee prostheses, and about the technique and results of this type of arthroplasty.Indeed, the subject of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty is one of the most controversial.In the light of French and foreign work, as well as series published by the members of the panel, it may be emphasized that any series published before 1980 cannot be compared with those published between 1980 and 1990: improved operative techniques and better selection of indications have largely contributed towards the improvement of results, although there is still a fairly high failure rate in the long term.The difficulty in evaluating results and the lack of standardized scores make it difficult to evaluate the exact failure rate, which varies from 6 to 25% depending on the author.The use of a standard system for evaluating results and the plotting of survival curves should, however, help to find comparable results in future years.The participants were asked to answer a number of questions. The answers to these questions should help each surgeon make a better selection of indications, use prostheses with optimum technology, and therefore improve his results.We hope these aims can be acheived and if they are, this GECO 1994 panel discussion on unicompartmental arthroplasty will have been successful.