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Consensus statement on unicompartmental knee replacement: A collaboration between BASK and EKS
Andrew Price1, Emmanuel Thienpont2, Fabio Catani2
1British Association for Surgery of the Knee (BASK); European Knee Society (EKS).
Insights
Consensus recommendations for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) emphasize offering it as an alternative to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for suitable patients. Surgeons should tailor patient consent, avoid low-volume procedures, and undergo specific training for optimal UKA outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Arthroplasty Research
- Clinical Practice Guidelines
Background:
- Establishment of consensus recommendations for the clinical practice of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA).
- Addressing the need for standardized guidelines in UKA procedures.
Framework:
- Joint meeting of the British Association for Surgery of the Knee (BASK) and European Knee Society (EKS).
- Formal consensus process utilizing a multiple-round Delphi exercise.
- Achieved consensus based on a threshold of 80% agreement among 80 delegates.
Implementation:
- Five consensus statements developed covering indications, patient consent, surgeon volume, evidence-based practice, and training.
- UKA recommended as a successful alternative to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for indicated patients.
- Emphasis on tailored patient consent, surgeon training, and avoiding low-volume UKA.
Implications:
- These BASK-EKS consensus statements provide a contemporary basis for optimal UKA patient care.
- Recommendations are expected to inform future training programs and service developments in knee arthroplasty.
- Promoting evidence-based practice and standardized training to optimize UKA outcomes.
Background:
The aim of this study was to deliver consensus recommendations for the clinical practice of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA).
Methods:
Members of the British Association for Surgery of the Knee (BASK) and European Knee Society (EKS) were invited to attend a joint meeting in London, UK (December 2019). A formal consensus process was undertaken at the meeting incorporating a multiple round Delphi exercise, with group discussion of areas of agreement and disagreement between rounds. Eighty delegates attended the meeting and five consensus statements were considered and revised, with a threshold level of 80% agreement required as the definition consensus.
Results:
Five consensus statements with accompanying supporting evidence and text were agreed following two rounds of the process: (1) UKA should be offered as a successful alternative to TKA in patients undergoing arthroplasty who meet agreed indications; (2) When consenting a patient for UKA, information including the benefits and risks that are specific to UKA, should be tailored to and discussed with the individual patient; (3) Evidence suggests that surgeons should avoid low-volume use of UKA to optimise outcomes for their patients; (4) Surgeons should use the contemporary evidence-based indications and contraindications for medial UKA; (5) Knee arthroplasty surgeons should have exposure to and training in UKA.
Conclusions:
The agreed joint BASK-EKS consensus statements on UKA practice are recommended as the contemporary basis of optimal care for these patients and should inform future training and service developments.
