Abstract
Introduction: Uni-compartmental Knee Replacement (UKR) has now become an accepted and widely used treatment for uni-compartmental arthritis. Our unit has performed over 1000 UKRs in the past 22 years. The optimal mechanical design of the implant has yet to be determined.
Method: A prospective trial was commenced in 1999 to compare the short-term results of a fixed bearing with a mobile bearing prosthesis. One hundred and three knees in 95 patients underwent a UKR. Fifty-three had a St Georg Sled fixed bearing prosthesis and 50 had unconstrained mobile bearing Oxford UKR. All were prospectively reviewed using the Oxford and Bristol Knee Scores.
Results: Eighty-four knees have been reviewed at two years with one lost to follow-up. One fixed (2%) and six mobile (12%) bearing knees had been revised. Three fixed bearing and eight mobile bearing knees were dissatisfied because of stiffness or persistent pain and seven mobile bearing knees had undergone further minor procedures, usually for dislocation. At two years, the Bristol and Oxford knee scores for fixed bearing were better than the mobile bearing knees at 90:83 /100 and 38:33 /48 respectively.
Conclusion: There were more early complications in the mobile bearing UKR group, but the functional results were slightly better than in the fixed bearing knees.
These abstracts were prepared by Editorial Secretary, George Sikorski. Correspondence should be addressed to Australian Orthopaedic Association, Ground Floor, The William Bland Centre, 229 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
At least one of the authors is receiving or has received material benefits or support from a commercial source.
