Cemented versus cementless unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) offers a more conservative treatment than total knee arthroplasty when osteoarthritis affects only one tibiofemoral knee compartment. Cemented UKA has become the gold standard due to its good functional outcomes and low revision rates. The most common reasons for revision with cemented UKA include aseptic loss, unexplained pain, and radiolucent lines. Cementless UKA, which adds a porous coating of titanium and hydroxyapatite as well as an additional peg on the femoral component, has been shown to reduce the prevalence of radiolucencies compared to cemented UKAs. National registry data have demonstrated comparable functional outcomes and improved revision rates with cementless UKA. This review aims to summarize various advancements in unicompartmental prostheses, and to highlight how the conceptual advantages of the cementless model lead to superior implant survivorship and functional outcomes.