We describe the outcome of 16 Miller-Galante unicompartmental knee arthroplasties (MG-Uni) carried out for osteoarthritis and osteonecrosis of the medial compartment. These operations were undertaken more than ten years ago at Niihama Kyoritsu Hospital by a single surgeon. The mean patient age at operation was 78.6 years (66-86 years). All the knees had an intact anterior cruciate ligament, full-thickness cartilage in the lateral compartment, and correctable varus deformity.
Two patients were transferred to another hospital, and 7 patients died. The mean time from surgery to death was 7.8 years (3 to 11). Six patients are alive and the mean time since surgery is 11.3 years (10 to 17 years). The mean age of the remaining patients is 88.5 years (77 to 94 years) and they are free from gonalgia. At the final radiographic evaluation, one knee had incomplete tibial radiolucency and two knees had slight polyethylene abrasion. Signs of a slight progression of osteoarthritis in the lateral component have been noted in two knees. No component shows evidence of loosening or alignment change.
