Metal Backing Significantly Decreases Tibial Strains in Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

Long-term survivability has increased for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. With all-polyethylene tibial designs, tibial subsidence has been a leading cause of failure. Metal backed implants, with congruent articulations, decrease stresses in the tibial polyethylene; however, their effect on tibial loading is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to compare strains induced on the proximal tibia in metal-backed and all-polyethylene UKA designs.