Use of All-polyethylene Tibial Components in Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty Increases the Risk of Early Failure

This study compared the clinical outcomes and prevalence of early failure between all-poly and metal-backed modular components in UKA. We retrospectively reviewed the records and radiographs of 101 consecutive UKAs. In total, 51 UKAs were performed using all-poly tibial components; 50 others used metal-backed modular components. Clinical and radiographic outcomes, adaptive bone remodeling assessed by radiographic bone density, and early failure prevalence rates were compared. Despite a lack of group differences in clinical and radiographic outcomes (p > 0.1 in all comparisons), adaptive bone remodeling at 2 years after surgery of all-poly UKAs was more progressive compared with metal-backed UKAs (1.2 in all-poly UKA group vs. 0.9 in metal-backed UKA group, p < 0.001). In addition, 6 of 51 all-poly UKAs failed within 2 years postoperatively, whereas no metal-backed UKAs failed (11% in all-poly UKA group vs. 0% in metal-backed UKA group, p = 0.027). All-poly tibial component use during UKA increased the risk of early failure, which may be due to a failure in tibial loading distribution. [...] Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.Article in Thieme eJournals: Table of contents  |  Abstract  |  Full text
Source: Journal of Knee Surgery - Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research