Mark's most recent paper has just been published.: It is a report of 187 consecutive Unicompartmental knee replacements performed by Mark, with careful functional scores recorded on all patients before surgery and at intervals up to 7 years after surgery. Only 12 patients had gone on to have further surgery on the knee, and only 9 of the unicompartmental replacements had been revised. The mean functional scores (Oxford knee scores – a score out of 48 assessing overall pain and function) improved from 21 pre-op to 39 at the last follow-up point, which is an excellent improvement. These results are in line with the best published results worldwide for this procedure, despite perhaps wider indications being used, especially regarding the patella-femoral joint. Very few surgeons publish individual results in this way.
A unicompartmental knee replacement replaces only the part of the knee that is damaged, and if done well in an appropriate patient is a smaller operation than a total knee replacement, and typically results in a quicker recovery with an improved functional outcome. Up to 1 in 3 patients who are traditionally offered total knee replacements may be suitable for partial knee replacements. If you would like to discuss the possibility of a partial knee replacement, then please make an appointment to see Associate Professor Rickman by one of the methods on our “Make an appointment” page.
The full paper can be viewed on the link below
