Osteotomy versus unicompartmental prosthetic replacement in the treatment of unicompartmental arthritis of the knee.

Forty patients (44 knees) with unicompartmental arthritis of the knee were reviewed to assess the overall functional result following high tibial osteotomy as compared to unicompartmental prosthetic replacement. All patients were evaluated both pre- and postoperatively using a standardized computer form. Mean followup was 24 months in the osteotomy group, and 41 months in the prosthetic replacement group.Results in the osteotomy group were rated excellent in two patients, good in nine, and poor in 12. Results in the prosthetic replacement group were rated excellent in 10, good in nine and poor in two. We therefore believe that unicompartmental replacement offers a viable alternative to high tibial osteotomy in the treatment of unicompartmental arthritis of the knee if proper patient selection and precise component placement is employed.