ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis can be treated clinically with either total or partial knee arthroplasty. In the choice of treatment methods, a variety of factors lead to significant differences. There is little reliable evidence to guide the clinical surgical options. OBJECTIVE: To compare the short-term curative effect of unicompartmental and total knee arthroplasties in the treatment of unicompartmental osteoarthritis and to explore the effects of two treatment methods on the balance function of patients. METHODS: This was a perspective trial. The patients with unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis were divided into unicompartmental knee arthroplasty group (22 cases, 23 knees) and total knee arthroplasty group (30 cases, 30 knees) based on surgical method. All patients signed the informed consents and the study was approved by the hospital ethical committee. The operation time, hospitalization time, Hospital for Special Surgery score, and the range of motion of the knee joint were compared between two groups to evaluate the early efficacy. The patients’ balance function was evaluated using the Tecnobody Proprioception Test System, Timed Up and Go test, and Berg Balance Scale before and 3 months after surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Compared with the total knee arthroplasty group, the unicompartmental knee arthroplasty group had shorter operation time and hospitalization time (P 0.05). The Tecnobody Proprioception Test System scores at 3 months after surgery in the unicompartmental knee arthroplasty group were significantly higher than those in the total knee arthroplasty group (P < 0.001). (3) These results indicate that both unicompartmental and total knee arthroplasties have satisfactory short-term results in the treatment of unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis. Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty is superior to total knee arthroplasty in terms of operation time, hospitalization time, and balance function recovery.