Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for lateral gonarthrosis: midterm results.

Thirty-eight lateral compartment arthroplasties were performed in 22 years. Eighteen joints in 17 patients with an average age of 64.5 years were evaluated with minimum 5-year follow-up. Using the Hospital for Special Surgery knee score, 16 of 18 joints had satisfactory results in terms of function and pain relief. The average preoperative alignment on standing was 14.9 degrees of valgus angulation, which was corrected to 6.9 degrees of valgus. On radiographic analysis, no radiolucent lines were seen under the tibial component, but the femoral component was loose in 1 joint. Although 5 joints showed slight deterioration of osteoarthritic change in the medial compartment, lateral compartment arthroplasty is a reliable and successful option in the treatment of patients with a low level of physical activity.