Aims. The interest in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) for
medial osteoarthritis has increased rapidly but the long-term follow-up
of the Oxford UKAs has yet to be analysed in non-designer centres.
We have examined our ten- to 15-year clinical and radiological follow-up
data for the Oxford Phase III UKAs. Patients and Methods. Between January 1999 and January 2005 a total of 138 consecutive
Oxford Phase III arthroplasties were performed by a single surgeon
in 129 patients for medial compartment osteoarthritis (71 right
and 67 left knees, mean age 72.0 years (47 to 91), mean body mass
index 28.2 (20.7 to 52.2)). Both clinical data and radiographs were
prospectively recorded and obtained at intervals. Of the 129 patients,
32 patients (32 knees) died, ten patients (12 knees) were not able
to take part in the final clinical and radiological assessment due
to physical and mental conditions, but via telephone interview it
was confirmed that none of these ten patients (12 knees) had a revision
of the knee arthroplasty. One patient (two knees) was lost to follow-up. Results. The mean follow-up was 11.7 years (10 to 15). A total of 11 knees
(8%) were revised. The survival at 15 years with revision for any
reason as the endpoint was 90.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 85.2
to 96.0) and revision related to the prosthesis was 99.3% (95% CI
97.9 to 100). The mean total Knee Society Score was 47 (0 to 80)
pre-operatively and 81 (30 to 100) at latest follow-up. The mean
Oxford Knee Score was 19 (12 to 40) pre-operatively and 42 (28 to 55)
at final follow-up.