Comparative efficacy of total knee arthroplasty versus unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in obese patients with medial knee osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) in the treatment of medial knee osteoarthritis in obese patients.

METHODS

A total of 75 patients who underwent knee arthroplasty at our institution between June 2022 and June 2024 were included. Based on physician-patient communication, 34 patients were treated with UKA and 41 with TKA. General patient data, surgical-related indicators, and radiographic and follow-up data were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The UKA group demonstrated superior outcomes in terms of intraoperative blood loss, incision length, and postoperative drainage volume compared to the TKA group (P < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed in VAS scores or operative time between the two groups (P > 0.05). The UKA group showed significantly better HSS and WOMAC scores than the TKA group (P < 0.001). At the final follow-up, both groups exhibited significant improvements in the medial proximal tibial angle, posterior tibial slope, and femorotibial angle compared to preoperative values (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

UKA and TKA demonstrated comparable efficacy in restoring lower limb alignment and improving knee function. However, UKA offered distinct advantages in reducing intraoperative blood loss, incision length, and postoperative drainage. With strict adherence to surgical indications, UKA may be prioritized to enhance patient satisfaction following knee arthroplasty.