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No Long-term Difference Between Fixed and Mobile Medial Unicompartmental Arthroplasty

  • Symposium: Papers Presented at the Annual Meetings of The Knee Society
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

Abstract

Background

Early studies in the literature reported relatively high early minor reintervention rate for the mobile-bearing unilateral knee arthroplasty (UKA) compared with short- and midterm survivorship after fixed- or mobile-bearing UKA. However, whether the long-term function and survivorship are similar is unclear.

Questions/purposes

We therefore asked whether (1) mobile- or fixed-bearing UKAs have comparable function (as measured by the Knee Society scores); (2) mobile- and fixed-bearing UKA have comparable Knee Society radiographic scores; and (3) the long-term survivorship is comparable.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 75 patients (79 knees) with a fixed-bearing UKA and 72 patients (77 knees) with a mobile-bearing UKA operated on between 1989 and 1992. Mean age of the patients was 63 years; gender and body mass index (26 kg/m2) were comparable in the two groups. We obtained Knee Society function and radiographic scores and determined survival. The minimum followup was 15 years (mean, 17.2 ± 4.8 years; range, 15–21.2 years).

Results

The mean Knee Society function and knee scores were comparable in the two groups. Radiographically, the number of overcorrections and the number of radiolucencies were statistically higher in the mobile-bearing group (69% versus 24%). At final followup, considering revision for any reason, 12 of 77 (15%) UKAs were revised (for aseptic loosening, dislocation, and arthritis progression) in the mobile-bearing group and 10 of 79 (12%) in the fixed-bearing group (for wear and arthritis progression).

Conclusions

This long-term study did not demonstrate any difference in survivorship between fixed and mobile-bearing but pointed out specific modes of failure.

Level of Evidence

Level III, comparative study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Mina Chevrol-Benkeddache for her participation in the clinical review of the patients.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Arthritis Surgery, Hôpital Sainte-Marguerite, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France

    Sebastien Parratte MD, Vanessa Pauly MS, Jean-Manuel Aubaniac MD & Jean-Noel A. Argenson MD

  2. Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique, Hôpital Sainte Marguerite, 270, Boulevard Sainte-Marguerite, 13009, Marseille, France

    Jean-Noel A. Argenson MD

Authors
  1. Sebastien Parratte MD
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  2. Vanessa Pauly MS
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  3. Jean-Manuel Aubaniac MD
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  4. Jean-Noel A. Argenson MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jean-Noel A. Argenson MD.

Additional information

Each author certifies that his or her institution approved the human protocol for this investigation, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study was obtained.

One of the authors (JNA) is a consultant for Zimmer (Warsaw, IL).

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Parratte, S., Pauly, V., Aubaniac, JM. et al. No Long-term Difference Between Fixed and Mobile Medial Unicompartmental Arthroplasty. Clin Orthop Relat Res 470, 61–68 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-011-1961-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-011-1961-4

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