Influence of patient selection, component positioning and surgeon’s caseload on the outcome of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

Background

Implant malpositioning, low surgical caseload, and improper patient selection have been identified as essential factors, which could negatively affect the longevity of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). The aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact of the surgeon’s caseload on patient selection, component positioning, as well as component survivorship and functional outcomes following a PSI-UKA.

Methods

A total of 125 patient-specific instrumented (PSI) UKA were included. One hundred and two cases were treated by a high-volume surgeon (usage 40%) and 23 cases by a low-volume surgeon (< 10 cases/year, usage 34%). Preoperative UIS, as well as the postoperative clinical and radiologic outcome, were assessed retrospectively.

Results

Irrespective of the surgeon’s UKA caseload, PSI allowed good accuracy in component positioning (p > 0.05). The high-volume surgeon had a more strict indication for UKA with 89% showing a UIS > 25 (considered a good indication) compared to 70% for the low-volume surgeon (p = 0.016). The low-volume surgeon achieved worse results regarding functional outcome (p < 0.05) and a tendency toward an increased risk for UKA failure (p = 0.11) compared to the high-volume surgeon.

Conclusion

Due to potential selection errors, mostly connected to a low UKA-caseload, low-volume UKA surgeons might achieve worse outcomes. Very strict indications for UKA might be recommended in low-volume surgeons to achieve excellent clinical outcomes following a UKA.