# Is age an advantage? Improved outcomes after medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in patients aged ≥70 years

## TL;DR

Older patients (70+) who get a specific type of knee surgery have better outcomes and fewer complications than younger patients.

## Contribution

This study provides age-specific evidence showing improved outcomes for elderly patients undergoing medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.

## Key findings

- Elderly patients had lower postoperative pain and higher Knee Society Scores than younger patients.
- Older patients reported higher satisfaction and fewer complications after surgery.
- Outcomes for elderly patients were at least comparable and in some cases better than younger patients.

## Abstract

To determine whether patients aged ≥ 70 years undergoing medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty achieve superior clinical outcomes compared with younger patients, addressing the current lack of age‐specific evidence in this setting.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted, and 1:1 propensity‐score matching was employed using the following variables: age, body mass index, Charlson Comorbidity Index, baseline Knee Society Score (KSS), and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain. The matched cohort included 76 patients (38 elderly patients aged ≥70 years and 38 younger patients <70 years), all with a minimum of 12 months' follow‐up. Primary endpoints were postoperative VAS pain, KSS, and perioperative complications.

In the matched cohort, elderly patients had lower postoperative pain (VAS 2.1 ± 2.2 vs. 3.1 ± 2.4; p = 0.037) and higher KSS (82.5 ± 14.5 vs. 73.4 ± 16.9; p = 0.021) than younger patients, while also reporting a higher rate of postoperative satisfaction (97.4% vs. 84.2%; p = 0.049) and fewer complications (2.6% vs. 13.2%; p = 0.048), at a minimum of 12 months' follow‐up.

In appropriately selected candidates, patients aged ≥ 70 years undergoing medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty achieve clinical outcomes and satisfaction that are at least comparable—and in several measures superior—to those of younger patients at ≥12 months, supporting age ≥70 years as a viable indication.

Level III, retrospective comparative study.