The young patient and the medial unicompartmental knee replacement.

PURPOSE: Younger patients with unicompartmental degenerative knee joint diseases present a therapeutic dilemma. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long-term results of the Oxford phase III unicompartmental knee replacement through a minimally invasive approach in the young patient.

METHODS: We have studied a total of 51 patients (59 interventions) who underwent the Oxford Phase III Unicompartmental Knee Replacement. A clinical, radiographical and functional evaluation was performed twelve years after intervention.

RESULTS: According to the American Knee Society Score using Insall's criteria overall results of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty showed an excellent or good outcome for 53 knees (96.36%), fair for 1 (1.81%) and poor for 1 (1.81%) in the postoperative long term. The survival rate of the implants was close to 95% at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: Twelve years follow-up results of UKA through a minimally invasive exposure in young patients demonstrate predictably good outcomes.