Mid-term survivorship of fixed bearing unicondylar knee arthroplasty with no exclusion of early PFJ arthritis or ACL deficiency: Analysis of clinical and radiological predictors.

Purpose: Fixed bearing (FB) UKA constituted 63.7% of unicondylar knee arthroplasties in 2020 Australian Registry with the longest UKA survivorship. The significance of patellofemoral joint (PFJ) arthritis, ACL deficiency, post-operative anteromedial pain, radiosclerosis or radiolucency on survivorship of FB UKA is not established. The aim of this study was to analyze the medium-term survivorship of fixed-bearing UKA with no exclusion of PFJ OA and ACL deficiency. Predictors for failure were analyzed.

Methods: FB UKA performed in 2011-17 were reviewed. Cases with PFJ OA or ACL deficiency were not excluded. The effect on survivorship by ACL deficiency, PFJ arthritis, post-operative anteromedial pain and radiological abnormalities were analyzed.

Results: There were 96 UKA with follow-up time of 66 ± 18 months (27-98). The mean age was 70 ± 9 years, BMI 25.8 ± 2.6 kg/m. Alignment was varus 9° ± 4° pre-operatively and varus 3° ± 3° post-operatively. There were four revisions (4.2%) and 4 deaths (4.2%). Reasons for revisions were loosening ( = 1), persistent pain ( = 2) and lateral compartment disease ( = 1). Estimated survival at 8.3 years was 94.7% (95% CI 91.6-97.7). BMI ≥30 was found to be a significant predictor for failure. The incidence of radiographic abnormalities was 75% for PFJ arthritis, 39% for tibial tray overhang, 14% for radiolucency or radiosclerosis, 5% for ACL deficiency and 5% for edge loading respectively but they were not significantly associated with lower survivorship or anteromedial knee pain. The presence of anteromedial pain after surgery in 36.5% was also not significantly associated with survivorship.

Conclusion: FB UKA with no exclusion of early PFJ arthritis and ACL deficiency has satisfactory medium-term survivorship. BMI ≥30 could have higher risk of all-cause revision. Tibial tray overhang, non-progressive radiolucency or radiosclerosis do not seem to be associated with anteromedial knee pain or poorer medium term survivorship.