This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal My Folders Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Robinson, B. J. Articles by Dodd, C. A. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Robinson, B. J. Articles by Dodd, C. A. F.

Dislocation of the bearing of the Oxford lateral unicompartmental arthroplasty

A RADIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

Oxford Hip and Knee Group (OHKG)

P. McLardy Smith, FRCS, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, OHKG; and C. A. F. Dodd, FRCS, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, OHKG

Oxford Orthopaedic Engineering Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK.

Correspondence should be sent to Dr B. J. Robinson at Flat 1, Girdlestone Close, Headington, Oxford OX3 7NS, UK.

When the Oxford unicompartmental meniscal bearing arthroplasty is used in the lateral compartment of the knee, 10% of the bearings dislocate. A radiological review was carried out to establish if dislocation was related to surgical technique.

The postoperative radiographs of 46 lateral unicompartmental arthroplasties were analysed. Five variables which related to the position and alignment of the components were measured. Dislocations occurred in six knees.

Only one of the five variables, the proximal tibial varus angle, had a statistically significant relationship to dislocation. This variable quantifies the height of the lateral joint line. The mean proximal tibial varus angle for knees the bearings of which had dislocated was 9° and for those which had not it was 5°. In both groups it was greater than would be expected in the normal knee (3°).

Our study suggests that a high proximal tibial varus angle is associated with dislocation. The surgical technique should be modified to account for this, with care being taken to avoid damage to or over-distraction of the lateral soft tissues.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Keene, D. Simpson, and Y. Kalairajah Limb alignment in computer-assisted minimally-invasive unicompartmental knee replacement J Bone Joint Surg Br, January 1, 2006; 88-B(1): 44 - 48. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]