There is ongoing debate about the possible advantages of unicompartmental (UNI) knee replacement versus total knee replacement (TKR), such as for young, active patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate functional, radiographic, and device survivorship outcomes of UNI knee replacement with a newer generation UNI through 2-years post-op. A retrospective review of 188 cemented, fixed bearing unicompartmental (UNI) knee replacements implanted between January 2009 and June 2012 at 3 centers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the survivorship, reasons for revision, radiographic and clinical results. A chart review was performed to collect demographics, operative details, American Knee Society (AKS) scores and adverse events (AE) through 2-years post-op. Kaplan-Meier (KM) device survivorship rates for the partial knee construct were estimated for post-op years in which at least 40 subjects had later follow-up. The definition of revision was the removal of any component for any reason, and device survivorship was the lack of revision. The time variable was the time to revision if the knee had been revised, or the time to last clinical follow-up or death if the knee had not been revised. The average follow-up was 2.03 years (SD=0.4). The mean age was 64 years (SD=10.5), 56% of the patients were 65 years or younger, mean BMI was 27.5 kg/m2 (SD=4.9), 60% of patients were women, and 89% had a diagnosis of OA (9.6% had AVN). Data were collected through April 2015.INTRODUCTION
METHODS
The aim of tissue sparing surgery in total knee arthroplasty is to reduce surgical invasivity to the entire knee joint. Surgical invasion should not be limited only toward soft tissues but also toward bone. The classic technique for total knee arthroplasty implies intramedullary canal invasion for proper femoral component positioning. This phase is associated to fat embolism, activation of coagulation, and occult bleeding from the reamed canal. The purpose of our study was to validate a new extramedullary device which relies on templated data. Two-hundred patients in four different orthopaedics centres were randomized to undergo primary total knee arthroplasty either using standard intramedullary femoral instruments (IM group) or using a new extramedullary device (EM group). A new set of instruments was developed to control the sagittal and coranl plane of the distal femoral resection. The extramedullary instrument was calibrated referencing to templated data obtained from the preoperative long-limb radiograph (Fig 1, 2). Varus-valgus orientation of the resection were established by moving the two paddles according to templated data. An L-shaped sliding tool (5 centimetres long) over the anterior cortex controls the flexion-extension parameter of the resection and is intended to allow a cut flush with the anterior cortex at 0° of angulation with the distal aspect of the femoral diaphysis on the sagittal plane Femoral component coronal alignment was within 0±3° of the mechanical axis in 86% of the IM group and 88% of the EM group. Sagittal alignment of the femoral component was 0±3° in 80% of the IM group and 94% of the EM group. There was no difference in the average operative time between the two groups. The EM group showed a trend toward less postoperative blood loss Extramedullary reference with careful preoperative templating can be safely utilized during total knee arthroplasty.
