Introduction

The Department of Health determined that, from April 2011, Trusts would not be paid for emergency readmissions within 30 days of discharge. The purpose of our project was to identify factors associated with such readmissions and implement plans for improvement.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report the mid-term survival results of Oxford UKAs in patients of 50 years of age or less, using (1) revision surgery and (2) Oxford Knee Scores (OKS) as outcome measures.

Method: A literature review identified studies of Oxford mobile bearing UKAs containing individuals 1) 50 years old or less with 2) medial osteoarthritis and 3) 2 years or longer follow-up. Authors were approached to participate in a multi-centre survival analysis by submitting all their patients, 50 years of age or less, who received a medial UKA for osteoarthritis. Patients who had died, been lost to follow-up or who underwent revision were identified. OKS were established for all patients with surviving implants.

Results: Seven centres submitted 107 patients. The mean age was 47 years (range 32–50). The average follow-up was 4 years (range 1–25). Forty-seven patients had follow-up into their fifth year or longer. The cumulative 7-year survival using revision as the endpoint was 96% (CI 8). The mean post-operative OKS for surviving implants was 38 (CI 2) out of a possible 48.

Conclusion: While early survival rates and function are encouraging, long-term follow-up is required before concluding UKA is a viable treatment option in young patients with unicompartmental knee arthritis.