Limited exposure unicondylar arthroplasty: Hype or hope?

Limited exposure unicondylar arthroplasty: Hype or hope? Article

Lavernia, CJ, Burke, WV, Sadun, A. (2001). Limited exposure unicondylar arthroplasty: Hype or hope? . 12(1), 13-17. 10.1097/00001433-200102000-00003

The new recent emphasis in cost containment and the introduction of minimally invasive techniques have brought back unicondylar knee arthroplasty. Many surgeons now perform the unicondylar arthroplasty through a small arthrotomy, abandoning the full parapatellar approach. With this technique, the patella is not dislocated, and there may be fewer extensor mechanism problems. Postoperative rehabilitation is markedly improved. There is also a significant cost savings because patients are discharged home earlier. One of the biggest drawbacks of the minimally invasive approach to unicondylar arthroplasties involves the revision procedure. The skin around the knee is extremely sensitive to multiple approaches and a surgeon revising a unicompartmental total knee replacement might have significant trouble incorporating the incision from the minimally invasive unicondylar arthroplasty in the revision procedure. Although this is an exciting time for the development of this procedure, the consequences of the approach, its long-term success with avoidance of complications, and the subsequent outcome of revision surgery remains to be determined. © 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.