Unicompartmental or primary total knee arthroplasty in osteoarthritis

This review is intended as an instructional and a practical paper about the indications of unicompartmental and total knee arthroplasties. It will hopefully help surgeons familiar with these two forms of joint replacement, and answer the questions often asked by younger orthopedic surgeons. In addition to the usual fundamental research articles and reports of clinical studies that make up a review of this kind, the author has recalled the historical debate between unicompartmental and total knee arthroplasty and delineated the characteristics of the ideal candidate for each indication.