Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty results in a better gait pattern than total knee arthroplasty: Gait analysis with a smartphone application

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the smartphone- based gait analysis data of patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2016 and April 2019, a total of 51 patients (3 males, 48 females; mean age: 60.92 years; range, 51 to 70 years) who were operated with UKA or TKA in our clinic were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the type of procedure as the UKA group (n=17) and unilateral TKA group (n=34). Gait analysis was made via a smartphone application (Gait Analyzer software version 0.9.95.0) with data acquired from the accelerometer of the smartphone. This analysis was performed using data collected from the Acceleration Sensor LSM6DSO into the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus phone. Gait velocity, step time, step length, cadence, step time symmetry, step length symmetry, and vertical COM (vert-COM) parameters were measured. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in respect of age, sex, body mass index, operated side, and follow-up duration. Compared to the TKA group, the UKA patients showed a better gait pattern in gait velocity (p=0.03), step time symmetry (p=0.005), and step length symmetry (p=0.024). No significant difference was detected in step time (p=0.807), step length (p=0.302), cadence (p=0.727) and vert-COM parameters (p=0.608). CONCLUSION: The gait of UKA patients is closer to the physiological pattern with a better gait velocity, step time symmetry, and step length symmetry than TKA patients. The surgical treatment option of UKA for knee medial compartment osteoarthritis leads to a better gait pattern than TKA.