Managing Osteoarthritis with the Repicci II Unicondylar Program

TOTAL KNEE SURGERY

In total knee replacement, up to an 8" incision is made, and the knee cap is dislocated, exposing the surfaces of the knee. Up to an inch of bone is removed from the femur and the tibia to accommodate the knee implant. After surgery, most patients stay in hospital several days and follow up with extensive physical therapy. The long-term result is usually excellent, but it can take many months for the patient to fully regain the function of their new knee joint.

Total knee inplants used to resurface all three compartments

Unicompartmental Knee Surgery

Patients that exhibit osteoarthritis in one compartment may not need a total joint replacement to relieve pain and restore function of the knee. An alternative option is unicompartmental implant. The Repicci II Unicondylar Program is designed to address these patients.

Repicci II implants resurface one compartment of the knee. Note the size of the implants compared to a total knee

This device is much smaller than a total knee implant and leaves the healthy tissues intact.

The History of Unicompartmental Knee Replacements

The first unicondylar knee replacements date back to the early 1970s and like early knee replacements, showed mixed success. But over the last 25 years, implant design, instrumentation, and surgical technique have improved, making unicompartmental knee replacement a successful treatment of unicompartmental osteoarthritis.

How Long Might A Unicompartmental Implant Last?

All knee implants have a limited life expectancy, and reviewing the orthopaedic literature shows that modern unicompartmental knee replacements last in the 10-year range, depending on a patientÕs age, weight, and activity level. Many orthopaedic surgeons around the world report a success rate of about 90% at 10 years, indicating that many patients have long-term enjoyment of their unicompartmental knee implant.

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