Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To review the research progress on finite element analysis (FEA) of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) in medial knee compartmental osteoarthritis. METHODS: The FEA research literature on the medial knee UKA at home and abroad was reviewed, and the progress on the aspects of the influences of the prosthesis arrangement and the postoperative joint line on the mechanical distribution of the knee joint, the improvement of the UKA prosthesis, and the related research of different types of prostheses were summarized. RESULTS: At present, scholars have conducted a large number of FEA studies on UKA in the medial knee compartmental osteoarthritis. The results of the study show that the recommended coronal alignment and the tibial slope angle of tibial component in medial fixed-bearing UKA are 0° and 5°-7°, respectively; and the coronal alignment and the tibial slope angle of tibial component in mobile-bearing UKA are 4° varus to 4° valgus and 5°-7°, respectively. The femoral component is arranged in the neutral position of the distal femur. The joint line is recommended to be the primary alignment. The anatomical UKA prosthesis can restore the biomechanical properties of the normal knee joint. CONCLUSION: FEA research can clarify the best arrangement and joint line of the medial knee UKA prosthesis based on the mechanical distribution results, and guide the design of UKA prostheses that are more suitable for patients.