UNICOMPARTMENTAL OSTEOARTICULAR ALLOGRAFTS OF THE KNEE: SURVIVAL ANALYSIS AND COMPLICATIONS.

Introduction: Unicompartmental osteoarticular defects of the knee are challenging due to demands of stability and function of this weight-bearing joint. Prostheses reconstruction often requires sacrificing the uninvolved compartment. Osteoarticular allograft reconstruction can restore the anatomy, and allows reattaching soft tissue structures such as meniscus and ligaments from the host. The purpose of this study was to perform a survival analysis of unicompartimental osteoarticular allografts of the knee and evaluate their complications. Material and Methods: Forty unicompartmental osteo-articular allograft of the knee performed in 38 patients during the period 1962–2001, were followed for a mean of 11 years. In 36 patients, the bone defect was created by the resection of a tumor (33 giant cell tumors, 1 osteogenic sarcoma, 1 chondrosarcoma and 1 malignant fibrous histiocytoma) and in the remaining two by an open fracture. Twenty nine transplants were located at the femur that includes 11 medial and 18 lateral condyles. Eleven transplants were located at the tibia, including 4 medial and 7 lateral tibial plateaus. According to the reconstructed compartment, host meniscus and ligaments were reattached to the graft. Rigid internal fixation with plates and screws were used in each patient. Allografts survival from the date of implantation to the date of revision or the time of the latest follow-up was determined with the use of the Kaplan-Meier method. Complications as local recurrence, fracture, articular collapse and infection were analyzed. Results: The global rate of allograft survival was 85% at five years. There were 8 complications in 6 patients: 2 local recurrences, 2 infections, 1 fracture, 1 massive resorption and 2 articular collapses. In 6 patients the allograft was removed and they were considered as failures. All these patients required a second allograft that included 2 unicompartmental and 4 bicompartimental reconstructions. The two patients with articular collapses required a regular total knee resurfacing prosthesis. Discussion: Although the incidence of reoperations due to allograft complications may be high, the allograft survivor rate at five years was 85%. Unicondylar allografts, appear to be an alternative in those situations in which the massive osteoarticular bone loss to be reconstructed, is limited to one knee compartment.