This
procedure is much less invasive
than total knee replacement
and may give relief to people
suffering from arthritis
of the knee or a knee injury.
Partial knee replacement
surgery replaces only the
damaged area of your knee
joint, may require only
one day of hospitalization,
and results in dramatically
less recovery time when
compared with total knee
replacement surgery.
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Available
Treatment Options
Your doctor
may try several conservative treatments
before recommending partial knee
replacement. If the conservative
treatments do not relieve your
pain from arthritis of the knee,
surgical procedures may be recommended.
Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally
invasive procedure to remove debris
or repair torn cartilage. Total
knee replacement surgery is major
surgery that replaces all three
compartments of the knee. Between
those two alternatives is uni-compartmental
surgery.
Minimally
Invasive Partial Knee Replacement
The uni-compartmental
knee replacement is a minimally
invasive option for patients with
knee arthritis that is isolated
to either the medial or lateral
compartment of the knee. This
minimally invasive procedure provides
several benefits to patients who
have a moderately active lifestyle,
are within normal weight ranges,
and have arthritis that is confined
to a single compartment.
The
x-ray below shows a
right leg with a degenerated
medial (inside) compartment.
Notice how there is
no space between the
femur and the tibia.
This bone on bone contact
can be quite painful.
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The
x-ray below shows
a right leg with a
degenerated medial
(inside) compartment.
Notice how there is
no space between the
femur and the tibia.
This bone on bone
contact can be quite
painful.
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There are
many benefits to uni-compartmental
knee replacement. First of all,
the procedure leaves a 3-4 inch
incision, compared to an 8-12
inch incision for total knee replacement.
There is no disruption of the
knee cap, which leads to more
rapid rehabilitation.There is
minimal blood loss in a partial
knee replacement. The procedure
causes less post-operative pain
and requires greatly reduced hospitalization
compared to a total knee replacement.There
is also a reduced need for anesthesia
and post-operative medication.
After
the surgery, patients
are able to walk within 3 to 4
hours and experience a much faster
rehabilitation and recovery (2
to 5 weeks for many patients).
After achieving full recovery,
most patients experience an increased
range of motion when compared
to total knee replacement.
The
Procedure
The partial
knee replacement procedure begins
with the exposure of the joint
through a 3 to 4 inch incision.
The surgeon then properly balances
the knee joint. Next the end of
the femur and top of the tibia
are shaped to accommodate the
uni-compartmental knee replacement
components. Trial components are
placed on the bones to ensure
proper alignment and are removed
once this alignment is achieved.
At this point the femoral and
tibial components are implanted,
the incision is closed and the
procedure is complete.
Returning
Home
You will
be discharged when you can get
out of bed on your own and walk
with a walker or crutches, walk
up and down three steps, bend
your knee 90 degrees and straighten
your knee.
You’ll continue your home exercise
program and go to outpatient physical
therapy, where you will work on
an advanced strengthening program
and such programs as stationary
cycling, walking, and aquatic
therapy.
Your long-term
rehabilitation goals are a range
of motion from 100-120 degrees
of knee flexion, mild or no pain
with walking or other functional
activities, and independence in
all activities of daily living.
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