Management of the Failed Medial Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

With recent design modifications, proper patient selection, and sound surgical technique, medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty has demonstrated long-term success in the management of degenerative joint disease. Nevertheless, complications do occur, most often aseptic loosening, tibial fracture, polyethylene wear, bearing dislocation, disease progression, infection, and unexplained pain. Some failures can be managed with retention of the implant, whereas others require revision to total knee arthroplasty (TKA), possibly including augments and stems. Although outcomes of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty may not match those of a primary TKA, they tend to exceed results of revision of a previous TKA.