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La Quinta, CA 92253
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A successful unicondylar (partial) knee replacement can be defined in a multitude of ways. The patient's expectations and other patient specific factors such as age, weight, and diagnosis have all been identified as important factors having impact on clinical outcomes. The goal for any knee procedure is the return to a higher level of function and the ability to perform activities of daily living impacting quality of life. Dr. Raj K. Sinha, M.D., PhD., orthopaedic surgeon with S.T.A.R. Orthopaedics in La Quinta, CA, is working with Corin USA, a medical device company located in Tampa, FL, as an investigator for an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) research study.

This research evaluates the Uniglide Mobile Bearing Unicondylar Knee System, a unicompartmental knee replacement device, to collect clinical data for submission to the FDA. The Uniglide device is not currently marketed in the U.S. and the FDA will use the results of the clinical study as part of the approval process for the U.S. The fixed bearing version of the Uniglide partial knee system is currently approved by the FDA for marketing in the U.S. The clinical study compares the mobile bearing design to the fixed bearing design of the Uniglide system. Approximately 420 subjects, male and female, will be enrolled in the study at 18 different investigational research sites within the United States.

If you are between the ages of 40 and 75 with osteoarthritis of one or both knees and want to learn more about participating in this FDA-regulated study or to fund out whether you qualify, please go to www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 00740376) or contact: Margaret Cutler, R.N., Clinical Research Coordinator for Dr. Raj K. Sinha, M.D., PhD at: S.T.A.R. Orthopaedics, Inc. 47110 Washington Street, Suite 201 La Quinta, California 92253 (760) 625-1652  (760) 625-1652 reference: 1. Gioe TJ, Killeen KK, Heoffel DP, Bert JM, Comfort TK, Scheltema K, Mehle S. Grimm K. Analysis of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in a community-based implant registry. Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. 2003 Nov; (416): 111-9

Unicondylar (Partial) Knee Replacement for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis usually occurs first in the medial (inside) portion of the knee joint. Unlike total knee replacement that removes all the knee joint surfaces, a unicondylar or partial knee replacement replaces only one part of the knee joint. In knees that are otherwise healthy, a partial knee replacement can preserve the healthy bone, cartilage, and ligaments; potentially preventing or delaying the need for total knee replacement.

Some advantages of a partial knee replacement are that it removes less bone and cartilage, may require a shorter hospital stay, may be less painful, may enable a more rapid recovery, and may provide more natural motion when compared to a total knee replacement. Early results of unicondylar (partial) replacement from the 1970s and 1980s tended to support the idea that this procedure was appropriate only for the sedentary, elderly patient. Since that time, advancements in materials, design, instrumentation, and operative technique have expanded the indications to include younger, more active patients.