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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.
Not every arthritis
patient is a candidate. You may be if
arthritis primarily affects the inside half
of your knee(s). Patients affected by this
condition often walk bow-legged.
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.
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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.
Osteoarthritis
is a condition that develops over time as the
cartilage cracks and wears away. Because cartilage
cannot fully repair itself, it may continue to erode
over time. At first, your knee may just be a little
stiff. But as the bones of the joint begin rubbing
together, you’re likely to feel pain. 
As
the opposing cartilage surfaces wear away, the knee
collapses causing deformities such as bowleggedness
(varus) or knock knees (valgus). These deformities
can contribute to pain and functional losses of the
knee.
