ArticleJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research2026
Partial unicondylar arthroplasty with three-dimensional-printed porous tantalum prosthesis shows promising early results for focal osteochondral defects: a retrospective comparative study with average of 49.6-month follow-up.
Article in Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
purposeTo evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of a novel partial unicondylar arthroplasty (PUCA) using a three-dimensional-printed (3DP) porous tantalum prosthesis for treating focal osteochondral defects (FOCD) of the femoral condyle, in comparison with unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA).
methodsThis exploratory-retrospective matched-cohort consecutively enrolled study involved 17 patients: 8 in Group A (PUCA with 3DP porous tantalum prosthesis) from a larger trial and 9 in Group B (UKA), matched by age, gender, and BMI. Participants, aged 18-60, had femoral condylar FOCD with complete clinical and imaging data; exclusions included knee instability and incomplete data. Follow-ups were at 6 weeks, 3, 6, 12 months, and annually. The primary outcome was the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score, with secondary outcomes including visual analogue scale (VAS), time to full-weight-bearing walking (FWBK), knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS), Lysholm scores and range of motion (ROM). Prosthesis stability and Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading were assessed via radiograph, and postoperative complications were compared. Statistical analyses included the Mann-Whitney U test, independent-samples t test, and Fisher's Exact test.
resultsAll patients averaged 49.6 years old at surgery with a mean follow-up of 49.6 months. No demographic or complication differences were found between groups, and no revisions were needed. Preoperative scores were similar (P > 0.05). Postoperatively, Group A demonstrated significantly greater improvements in KL grades (1.5 ± 0.5 vs. 2.5 ± 0.5, P = 0.006), VAS (1.3 ± 0.5 vs. 2.5 ± 0.5, P = 0.002), HSS (92.3 ± 1.8 vs. 87.4 ± 1.6, P = 0.000), KOOS (90.9 ± 1.6 vs. 88.3 ± 1.9, P = 0.009), Lysholm (91.4 ± 2.4 vs. 88.5 ± 1.9, P = 0.019), and ROM (133.1° ± 6.5° vs. 115.6° ± 4.0°, P = 0.000), except for FWBK (4.9 ± 0.8 vs. 5.3 ± 0.5 weeks, P = 0.189). However, only the difference in ROM met the minimum clinically important difference. All postoperative scores, except for ROM and KL, showed statistically significant improvement compared with preoperative values in both groups radiographs at final follow-up showed stable prostheses in both groups with no signs of loosening. The statistical power for postoperative HSS was 1.0 (G*Power, effect size = 2.89).
conclusionThis initial study is the first to apply personalized PUCA with 3DP porous tantalum prostheses for FOCD, demonstrating promising early outcomes compared with UKA, such as delayed progression of osteoarthritis, effective pain relief, and improved knee function and quality of life. PUCA notably preserves more native tissue and adapts to individual defects, making it clinically feasible by offering a potentially better option for future FOCD management.
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