Consensus statement on unicompartmental knee replacement: A collaboration between BASK and EKS.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to deliver consensus recommendations for the clinical practice of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA).

METHODS: Members of the British Association for Surgery of the Knee (BASK) and European Knee Society (EKS) were invited to attend a joint meeting in London, UK (December 2019). A formal consensus process was undertaken at the meeting incorporating a multiple round Delphi exercise, with group discussion of areas of agreement and disagreement between rounds. Eighty delegates attended the meeting and five consensus statements were considered and revised, with a threshold level of 80% agreement required as the definition consensus.

RESULTS: Five consensus statements with accompanying supporting evidence and text were agreed following two rounds of the process: (1) UKA should be offered as a successful alternative to TKA in patients undergoing arthroplasty who meet agreed indications; (2) When consenting a patient for UKA, information including the benefits and risks that are specific to UKA, should be tailored to and discussed with the individual patient; (3) Evidence suggests that surgeons should avoid low-volume use of UKA to optimise outcomes for their patients; (4) Surgeons should use the contemporary evidence-based indications and contraindications for medial UKA; (5) Knee arthroplasty surgeons should have exposure to and training in UKA.

CONCLUSIONS: The agreed joint BASK-EKS consensus statements on UKA practice are recommended as the contemporary basis of optimal care for these patients and should inform future training and service developments.