Purpose of Study: Fixed bearing unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR) has become popular since several series have shown good 10 year survivorship and excellent function. However little is known about survival during the second decade.

Method: From the Bristol database of over 4000 knee replacements 203 St. George Sled UKR’s which had already survived 10 years were identified. The mean age at surgery was 67 years (48–85), with 64% being female. This cohort has been further reviewed at an average of 14.8 years (10–30) from surgery to determine survivor-ship and function.

Results: Survivorship during the second decade was 87.5%. 58 patients (69 knees) had deceased with implant in situ, only 2 after revision. A further 15 UKR’s have been revised at an average of 13 years post op; 7 for progression of disease, 4 for tibial loosening, 3 for polyethylene wear, 2 for femoral component fracture and 2 for infection.

99 knees were followed for 15 years and 21 knees for 20 years. The average Bristol knee score of the surviving knees fell from 86 to 79 during the second decade.

A previous study showed an 89% 10 year survivor-ship and this is now extended to 82% at 15 years and 76.5% at 20 years.

Conclusion: Satisfactory survival of fixed bearing UKR can be achieved in the second decade suggesting that the indications for mobile bearings require careful definition since there is a higher incidence of complications in many people’s hands.

There have been several reports of good survivorship and excellent function at ten years with fixed-bearing unicompartmental knee replacement. However, little is known about survival beyond ten years.

From the Bristol database of over 4000 knee replacements, we identified 203 St Georg Sled unicompartmental knee replacements (174 patients) which had already survived ten years. The mean age of the patients at surgery was 67.1 years (35.7 to 85) with 67 (38.5%) being under 65 years at the time of surgery. They were reviewed at a mean of 14.8 years (10 to 29.4) from surgery to determine survivorship and function. There were 99 knees followed up for 15 years, 21 for 20 years and four for 25 years. The remainder failed, were withdrawn, or the patient had died.

In 58 patients (69 knees) the implant was in situ at the time of death. Revision was undertaken in 16 knees (7.9%) at a mean of 13 years (10.2 to 21.6) after operation. In seven knees (3.4%) this was for progression of arthritis, in three (1.5%) for wear of polyethylene, in four (2%) for tibial loosening, in two (1%) for fracture of the femoral component and in two (1%) for infection. Two knees (1%) were revised for more than one reason.

The mean Bristol knee score of the surviving knees fell from 86 (34 to 100) to 79 (42 to 100) during the second decade. Survivorship to 20 years was 85.9% (95% CI 82.9% to 88.9%) and at 25 years was 80% (95% CI 70.2% to 89.8%). Satisfactory survival of a fixed-bearing unicompartmental knee replacement can be achieved into the second decade and beyond.