ObjectiveTo compare the short-term effectiveness of medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) between patients younger or older than 60 years of age, and to investigate the impact of age on the effectiveness. Methods The clinical data of 182 patients (182 knees) who underwent medial UKA between July 2016 and June 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, of which 72 patients were less than 60 years old (group A) and 110 patients were more than 60 years old (group B). There was a significant difference in age between groups (t=−20.198, P<0.001). No significant difference was found in gender, body mass index, surgical sides, Kellgren-Lawrence grading, disease duration, and preoperative Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score between groups (P>0.05). The postoperative hospital stay and complications were recorded, and the WOMAC score, satisfaction score, and prosthesis revision were compared between groups. Results The length of postoperative hospital stay was (4.50±1.09) days in group A, and (4.46±1.29) days in group B, with no significant difference between groups (t=0.198, P=0.844). All incisions healed by first intention. The incidences of early postoperative complications in groups A and B were 5.6% and 3.6%, respectively, and the difference was not significant (χ2=0.061, P=0.804). All patients were followed up. The follow-up time were 28-50 months (mean, 36 months) in group A and 28-50 months (mean, 35 months) in group B. At last follow-up, the WOMAC scores of both groups significantly improved when compared with those before operation (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between groups (P>0.05) in the difference before and after operation. The satisfaction scores were 6.6±1.7 in group A and 6.9±1.6 in group B, with no significant difference between groups (t=−1.326, P=0.186). There was no revision surgery in both groups during follow-up period. ConclusionAge has no significant effect on the prognosis of medial UKA, and patients younger than 60 years of age can also obtain good short-term effectiveness.
ObjectiveTo investigate the short-term effectiveness of novel computer navigation system (Knee 3 software; Brainlab, Germany) assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA).MethodsBetween July 2020 and December 2020, 19 patients underwent unilateral TKA assisted with Knee 3 software. There were 4 males and 15 females. The mean age was 66.3 years (range, 52-79 years). Eighteen patients were diagnosed with osteoarthritis and 1 patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Sixteen patients had varus knees and 3 patients had valgus knees. Preoperative Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain, stiffness, function, and total scores were 12.4±3.4, 2 (1, 4), 22 (18, 29), and 37 (29, 43), respectively. Intraoperatively, the medial and lateral gaps in knee extension and in 90° of knee flexion were recorded. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion, and complications were recorded. The hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA), lateral distal femoral angle, and medial proximal tibial angle were measured to evaluate lower limb alignment and prostheses’s alignment using X-ray films at 6 weeks after operation. Patient’s satisfaction rate and WOMAC pain, stiffness, function, and total scores were investigated.ResultsEighteen patients (94.7%) had medial- lateral gap balancing in knee extension, 18 patients (94.7%) had medial-lateral gap balancing in 90° of knee flexion, 19 patients (100%) had medial gap balancing between knee extension and 90° of knee flexion, and 18 patients (94.7%) had lateral gap balancing between knee extension and 90° of knee flexion. The mean operation time was 126 minutes (range, 100-200 minutes). The mean intraoperative blood loss was 205 mL (range, 100-400 mL). Patients were followed up 4-8 months, with an average of 6.2 months. Postoperative complications included 1 deep vein thrombosis of lower extremities and 1 cerebral infarction. X-ray films showed that the mean HKA, lateral distal femoral angle, and medial proximal tibial angle were 179.8° (range, 178°-182°), 83.5° (range, 80°-87°), and 89.5° (range, 87°-93°), respectively. At last follow-up, WOMAC pain, stiffness, function, and total scores were 3.6±1.9, 0 (0, 2), 4 (2, 6), and 9 (5, 10), respectively, which improved when compared with preoperative scores (P<0.05). Twelve patients were very satisfied with the operation results and 7 patients were satisfied with the operation results. The overall satisfaction rate was 100%.ConclusionKnee 3 software can help to obtain good gap balancing and optimal lower limb alignment, with high patient’s satisfaction and good short-term effecectiveness.