When your knee problems resulting from osteoarthritis are confined to a specific compartment of your knee, partial knee replacement surgery is an effective alternative to total knee replacement. Only a few years ago, partial knee replacements were usually only performed on older patients who lived a fairly sedentary lifestyle. However, recent improvements to surgical techniques and implants have made this approach viable for a wider range of patients. It's believed that approximately 5% of patients with osteoarthritis in their knees could benefit from a partial knee replacement.
What Partial Knee Replacement Involves
During partial knee replacement surgery, the orthopedic surgeon will only replace the damaged section of your knee's cartilage. As compared with a total replacement procedure, a partial knee replacement allows for better functionality and a greater range of motion by preserving more of the healthy bone and tissue. Patients receiving partial knee replacements are usually more satisfied than those who go with total replacement. Moreover, they still have the option to have a total replacement done should they ever wish to in the future.
Who Can Get Partial Knee Replacement?
If your doctor has told you that you have patellofemoral, lateral or medial osteoarthritis, you may be a candidate for partial knee replacement. Patellofemoral osteoarthritis occurs between the tibia and the patella (kneecap). Lateral osteoarthritis occurs in the compartment positioned on the outside of your knee, while medial osteoarthritis occurs in the compartment closest to your other knee. If you find with any one of these conditions that your knee pain is not suppressed through the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and a program of weight loss, you should consider the benefits of having partial knee replacement surgery.
What Is the Recovery Like?
On the day immediately following your surgery, you will already be able to start moving the knee. The functionality of your knee should return more quickly and with less pain than it would with a total knee replacement. Of course, you'll be working with a physical therapist to increase the mobility of your knee while you are in the hospital. After your discharge one or 2 days later, you'll continue working with a physical therapist for 2-4 weeks.
While you are in the hospital and (perhaps) for some time afterward, you'll probably have to take medications to keep any blood clots from forming. Assuming everything goes smoothly, you should be able to get back to most of your normal activities in about a month. Keep in mind though that exercises that involve impacts (such as running, jogging or playing basketball) are best avoided after orthopedic surgeries like this, since this can damage the bearing surface on the replacement.
Share20 January 2015
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