ACL reconstruction with unicondylar replacement in knee with functional instability and osteoarthritis (Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research)

Severe symptomatic osteoarthritis in young and active patients with pre-existing deficiency of the anterior cruciate ligament and severe functionally instability is a difficult subgroup to manage. There is considerable debate regarding management of young patients with isolated uni compartment osteoarthritis and concomitant ACL deficiency. A retrospective analysis of was done in 9 patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis with ACL deficiencies and functional instability that were treated with unicompartmental knee arthroplasty and ACL reconstruction between April 2002 and June 2005.The average arc of flexion was 119degrees (range 85degrees to 135degrees) preoperatively and 125degrees (range 105degrees to 140degrees). There were no signs of instability during the follow up of patients. No patients in this group were reoperated. In this small series we have shown that instability can be corrected and pain relieved by this combined procedure