Partial Knee Replacement

About Partial Knee Replacement

In unicompartmental knee replacement (also called partial knee replacement) only a portion of the knee is resurfaced. This procedure is an alternative to total knee replacement for patients whose disease is limited to just one area of the knee. Because a partial knee replacement is performed through a smaller incision, patients usually spend little or no time in the hospital and return to normal activities sooner than total knee replacement patients.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF PARTIAL KNEE REPLACEMENT

The Advantages of partial knee replacement over total knee replacement include:

• Quicker recovery
• Less pain after surgery
• Less blood loss
• Lower risk of infection and blood clot

Also because the bone, cartilage and ligaments in the healthy parts of the knee are preserved, many patients report that a unicompartmental knee replacement feels more natural than a total knee replacement. A unicompartmental knee may also bend better.

Disadvantages:

Disadvantage of partial knee replacement compared with total knee replacement is the potential need for more surgery. For example, a total knee replacement may be necessary in the future if arthritis develops in the parts of the knee that have not been replaced.The need for additional surgery is slightly higher for partial knee replacement than for total knee replacement.

Candidates for Surgery

If your osteoarthritis has advanced and nonsurgical treatment options are no longer relieving your symptoms. Arthritis must be limited to one compartment of your knee. If you have any of the following characteristics, you may not be eligible for the procedure:

You may not be eligible if you have:

• Inflammatory arthritis
• Significant knee stiffness
• Ligament damage

With proper patient selection, modern unicompartmental knee replacements have demonstrated excellent medium- and long-term results in both younger and older patients.