Lateral Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty.

JBJS Rev · Mar 2020 · Review

Smith E, Lee D, Masonis J, Melvin JS

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The George Washington University, Washington, DC

Adult Reconstruction

SUMMARY — THE REDUCTIONReview of lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: good function and survivorship in well-selected patients, with mobile-bearing designs prone to dislocation and a need for more lateral-specific implants and separate registry reporting.
Abstract, as published

Lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty affords excellent functional results and implant survivorship for properly selected patients. More high-quality studies are necessary to determine whether expanded indications for medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty also apply to lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. Operative adjuncts such as robotics, custom implants, and navigation technology hold promise in minimizing the technical burden and unfamiliarity of lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. Improvements in lateral-specific implants may translate to operational efficiency and improved outcomes, but few lateral-specific implants currently exist. Mobile-bearing devices have increased rates of failure due to bearing dislocation, and further studies are warranted to evaluate this complication with newer designs. Future registry and cohort studies should show medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty and lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty separately to allow for better understanding of the nuances and technical differences between these uniquely different procedures.

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