[A 10-year follow-up of unicompartmental arthrosis treated with the Marmor method]

During the decade 1980-90, seventy-nine Marmor arthroplasties were performed in 68 patients with unicompartmental femorotibial arthrosis. Six knees (7.6%) had been revised to a total knee arthroplasty. Nine patients were dead and four were lost to follow-up. Using The Hospital for Special Surgery knee-rating scale the 50 knees examined had an average score of 86 at a mean observation time of 6.8 years, and 92% were classified as "excellent" or "good" results. Acummulated success ratio was calculated to a 87% probability of having a prosthesis in situ without severe pain after an observation period of 10 years. It was concluded that, in selected cases, the Marmor knee arthroplasty is a valuable procedure in the treatment of unicompartmental arthrosis.