The young patient and the medial unicompartmental knee replacement.

PURPOSE Younger patients with unicompartmental degenerative knee joint diseases present a therapeutic dilemma. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long-term results of the Oxford phase III unicompartmental knee replacement through a minimally invasive approach in the young patient. METHODS We have studied a total of 51 patients (59 interventions) who underwent the Oxford Phase III Unicompartmental Knee Replacement. A clinical, radiographical and functional evaluation was performed twelve years after intervention. RESULTS According to the American Knee Society Score using Insall's criteria overall results of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty showed an excellent or good outcome for 53 knees (96.36%), fair for 1 (1.81%) and poor for 1 (1.81%) in the postoperative long term. The survival rate of the implants was close to 95% at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Twelve years follow-up results of UKA through a minimally invasive exposure in young patients demonstrate predictably good outcomes.