Unispacer™
If you’re having trouble with your knee, you’re
not alone. Each year more than 6 million people see an orthopedic
surgeon for treatment of a knee problem.
The innovative UniSpacer is a promising alternative for patients
suffering from the early stages of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Technically less demanding than traditional knee surgery, the UniSpacer
requires only minimal surgical intervention. For those patients with the
proper indications, surgeons can insert this small lightweight, metallic
insert in the knee joint instead of cutting the bone and replacing the
whole knee.
This helps to relieve the arthritic pain and improve joint stability
by restoring ligament tension and normal knee alignment - at the same
time preserving the patient’s natural bone!
The UniSpacer is geometrically designed to self-center within the knee
and actually move with the knee, not against it. The UniSpacer adapts
to the normal motion of each individual's knee.
The UniSpacer is intended to:
- Restore alignment without osteotomy
- Improve stability by retensioning the ligaments
- Serve as a self-centering bearing that accommodates the kinematics
of the individual knee
The femoral articulating surface of the UniSpacer is cup shaped (concave)
to capture the femoral condyle. The tibial surface of the UniSpacer is
designed to replicate the anatomy of the tibial plateau with the meniscus
removed. Since the UniSpacer is not fixed in place, it remains centered
under the weight-bearing portion of the femur through all angles of flexion.
With the UniSpacer in place, the ligaments, surrounding the knee are
re-tensioned and act as cables that hold the femur against the UniSpacer.
The system can be imagined as a ball (the femoral condyle) placed inside
a cup (the UniSpacer), with cables (ligaments) holding the system together.
With proper ligament tension and unrestricted motion of the UniSpacer,
the femoral condyle moves within the femoral surface of the UniSpacer.
What is the UniSpacer?
The UniSpacer is a small, kidney-shaped insert that is intended to decrease
pain and improve joint stability for patients whose arthritis is primarily
located on the inside half of the knee. It also provides a smooth surface
for the bones to glide over when cartilage has been worn away by arthritis.
The UniSpacer functions as a self-centering bearing and requires no mechanical
fixation to the knee anatomy.
The UniSpacer comes in a wide range of sizes to conform as closely as
possible to the weight and size of each patient. What type of patient
is the UniSpacer best suited for? The UniSpacer was developed for patients
who have exhausted traditional treatments for knee pain like drugs and
arthroscopy, and are looking for an alternative to knee replacement.
More specifically, the UniSpacer is indicated for the treatment of isolated,
moderate degeneration of the medial compartment (Grade III-IV chondromalacia)
with no more than minimal degeneration (Grade I-II chondromalacia, no
loss of joint space) in the lateral condyle or patellofemoral compartment.
These patients typically present with a varus deformity (known as bow-leggedness).
The UniSpacer is not suitable for patients with significant patellafemoral
disease or significant lateral compartment disease, or those with subchondral
bone loss. Furthermore, the anterior and posterior cruciate ligament
structures must be intact. Where does the UniSpacer fit as a treatment
option for osteoarthritis of the knee? The UniSpacer fills a niche in
treatment that is currently occupied by some knee replacements. In particular,
the UniSpacer is an alternative to total and unicompartmental knee replacement
for patients with early to moderate stage degeneration who wish to maintain
an active lifestyle until such time as their condition worsens and total
knee replacement becomes the only option.
The UniSpacer will have less impact on the patient’s physiology
than a total knee replacement. When the time comes for a patient to have
total knee replacement, the surgeon slips the UniSpacer out and then
performs the knee replacement. Because the UniSpacer does not require
bone cuts or use cement, the total knee replacement procedure is not
compromised.
What is it made of and how does it work?
Made of cobalt chrome, the UniSpacer conforms to the natural bone structure
and stays in place without bone cement or screws. It is geometrically
designed to self-center within the knee and actually move with the knee,
not against it. The UniSpacer adapts to the normal motion of each individual’s
knee. The UniSpacer comes in various sizes to conform as closely as possible
to the weight and size of each patient.
The UniSpacer is a promising alternative for patients suffering from
the early stages of osteoarthritis of the knee. The UniSpacer was developed
for patients who have exhausted traditional treatments for knee pain
like drugs and arthroscopy, and are looking for an alternative to knee
replacement.
The goals of UniSpacer surgery are to relieve pain and improve joint
stability by restoring ligament tension and normal knee alignment, thus
restoring a patient's activity level, which may have been compromised
by pain.
The Operation
The operation is conducted under general or regional anesthesia and generally
takes about an hour to complete. You should not feel any pain during surgery.
Most patients are able to go home within 24 hours. You will have a period
of recovery and rehabilitation following the surgery. In the end, you have
an excellent chance of being very happy with your new knee.
Surgeons currently using the UniSpacer™ system:
Michael Busch, M.D.
Coordinated Health Systems
1401 N. Cedar Crest Blvd. • Suite 201 • Allentown, PA 18104 • 610-433-8080
Barry Ruht, M.D.
Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Group
1605 N. Cedar Crest Blvd. • Suite 111 • Allentown, PA 18104 • 610-821-4848
Leo Scarpino, M.D.
Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Group
1605 North Cedar Crest Blvd. • Suite #111 • Allentown, PA 18104 • 610-821-4848
For more information about the UniSpacer, please call 610-776-4520 or
send an email to lmckeon@shh.org.
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