MEDIAL UNICOMPARTMENT KNEE REPLACEMENT - MINIMUM 5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Forty-four medial Marmor unicompartment knee arthroplasties were performed at the Hutt Hospital from 1976 to 1983 on 35 patients. Seventy-five per cent were rated as excellent or good, using the Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Rating System. Four arthroplasties were revised at an average of 6 years (range: 2-8), two for late degenerative change in the lateral compartment, one for malposition and one for loosening. There was one late deep infection requiring an arthrodesis at 2 years. It is concluded that medial compartment knee arthroplasty provides satisfactory treatment in the elderly patient, although attention must be directed to technical aspects and patient selection, to afford long-term success.