This three-hour e-course on Unicompartmental Femorotibial Prostheses (Uni) first covers medial Uni. This is the most common indication. We successively consider the fundamental principles of Uni and the ideal indication. Limit indications are then discussed. The choice of implant is important and you must understand its design. Implanting a Uni is undoubtedly more demanding than a TKA. Good surgical technique is essential. The results that we have obtained since 1988 are shared without concession, allowing us to clearly identify the errors that should not be made.

The second part is dedicated to the specificities of the lateral Uni. There are technical particularities which are the key to success. The very good tolerance of the lateral Uni is explained. It makes it possible to extend the indications and we report our experience in cases of isolated lateral femorotibial osteoarthritis or associated with lateral patellofemoral osteoarthritis. associated but post-traumatic lateral femorotibial osteoarthritis or after medial Uni constitute excellent indications for lateral Uni.

Finally, examples illustrate the presentation and allow us to share our reasoning.

The situation has changed. A short stay, an early return to mobility and work, obtaining a forgotten knee have become just as important as the longevity of the intervention.

Ignoring this strong trend and relying only on the survival rates reported in registers is no longer appropriate for the knee surgeon, when it comes to the Uni.    

However, 10% of medial Uni still have tibial pain. For medial femorotibial compartment surgery, the surgeon must maintain strict indications and have a high volume of activity.

On the other hand, in the lateral Uni we can extend the indications because the lateral Uni is much more tolerant than the medial Uni. The residual deformation is well tolerated and pain is very rare. On the other hand, the positioning of the femoral implant is more demanding. Robotics brings hope to overcome technical problems  

After this e-course, you will be able to put into practice these aphorisms from Philippe Cartier and Gerard Deschamps. The United

Is not “half-TKA”

➨Is in itself a minimally invasive but not benign intervention

➨Is the art of the possible

➨Not a pre TKA procedure

➨Often allows you to obtain a “forgotten knee”.

You will also learn that the lateral Uni is not medial Uni: the indications, the technique and the results are not the same.