Compartmentalist approach to knee arthroplasty growing in viability by Keith Berend, MD

Orthopedics Today, February 2011

Read full article by clicking here

Increasing experience with unicompartmental knee arthroplasty is turning it into a more viable option for treating isolated lateral or patellofemoral arthritis – but more work is needed to determine exactly what the inclusion and exclusion criteria should be, according to an orthopedic surgeon from Ohio.

Keith R. Berend, MD, discussed his findings with an audience at the Current Concepts in Joint Replacement 2010 Winter Meeting in Orlando, Fla.

Movement toward unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) seems to be “a natural progression” given its conservative and less invasive nature when compared to total knee arthroplasty, Berend said, noting that early experience with a mobile bearing medial UKA shows excellent function and 98% survivorship throughout 6 years.

“Partial knee arthroplasty is by definition the only minimally invasive technique for the treatment of isolated, single compartment osteoarthritis of the knee,” Berend told Orthopedics Today. “Additionally, in the case of medial partial knee, significant amounts of patellar disease seen on preoperative radiographs can safely be ignored as these findings do not seem to affect survivorship.”

…Though more work is needed to gain proper experience and learn more of the indications for UKA, Berend said there are numerous reasons for pursuing it as an alternative to more invasive options.

“Partial knee arthroplasty, whether it be medial, lateral, or patellofemoral, is truly the only minimally invasive approach that we can offer patients, and I would urge you to take this compartmentalist approach,” he concluded. “I think it makes treating the arthritic knee effective, but it also makes sense and it would certainly make things easier.”

Keith R. Berend, MD
Joint Implant Surgeons, Inc.
7277 Smith???s Mill Road, Suite 200
New Albany, OH 43054
614-221-6331 phone
614-221-6301 fax
Website for Joint Implant Surgeons