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Researchers find preserved bone mineral density 2 years after UKA
Bone mineral density in the proximal tibia was preserved 2 years after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, according to this prospective study of 48 patients.
“[Bone mineral density] BMD was preserved 2 years after [unicompartmental knee arthroplasty] UKA with no major differences seen between implant types,” Bradley I. Richmond MBChB, and colleagues stated in the study abstract.
Richmond and colleagues followed patients who were implanted with either a cemented metal tibial baseplate and a mobile polyethylene insert or a cemented all-polyethylene tibial component, according to the abstract. Mean cancellous BMD was decreased on the lateral side by 1.1% and by 1.9% on the medial side while mean cortical BMD was decreased by 0.4% on the medial side and 0.5% on the lateral side.
There was no significant difference in pain or outcome scores between the two implant types. The researchers noted the greatest increase on any region between implants was 3.7%, according to the abstract.
Disclosure: During the study period, the institution of one or more of the authors received funding from the Taranaki Medical Foundation.