Deciding to undergo a knee replacement, whether partial or total, depends on a variety of factors, but always takes into consideration your overall health, and your quality of life. Some symptoms that indicate that it might be time to consider knee replacement surgery include:
Persistent Pain – Pain that persists and does not improve with conservative treatments like medications, physical therapy, or lifestyle changes or pain that interferes with daily activities, including walking, climbing stairs, or getting in and out of chairs is a sign that you should talk to your doctor about a knee replacement.
Limited Mobility – Reduced Range of Motion such as having difficulty bending or straightening the knee or difficulty with daily activities such as walking, standing for long periods, or performing household chores.
Ineffectiveness of Non-Surgical Treatments – If you’ve tried non-surgical treatments such as physical therapy, medications, injections, or lifestyle modifications without sufficient relief.
Joint Damage – If X-rays or MRIs showing severe joint damage, such as significant cartilage loss, bone-on-bone contact, or advanced osteoarthritis.
Quality of Life Considerations – If knee pain and dysfunction are affecting your overall quality of life, including your mental and emotional well-being.
Stable Overall Health – Good overall health is important as knee replacement is a major surgery. If you have other health conditions, your surgeon will consider these factors and how they might impact your surgery and recovery.
If you feel you are ready to consider a joint replacement. It is a good idea to talk with a joint replacement specialist who can offer you several options for knee replacement. One of those options is a partial knee replacement, also known as a unicompartmental knee replacement. This type of knee replacement can treat knee arthritis that affects just one compartment of the knee joint.
The knee is made up of three different areas – the medial (inside of the knee) the lateral (outer side of the knee) and the area behind the kneecap. In a partial knee replacement, only the damaged compartment of the knee is replaced with an artificial implant, while the healthy parts of the knee are preserved. This contrasts with a total knee replacement, where the entire knee joint is replaced.
Candidates for partial knee replacement typically include individuals with arthritis or other knee issues confined to just one compartment of the knee, who have good knee stability. A partial knee replacement is often considered less invasive and there are many benefits:
Less invasive: Because only part of the knee is replaced, the surgery involves a smaller incision compared to total knee replacement, which means less disruption to surrounding tissues.
Offers a quicker recovery: Patients often experience a faster recovery and less postoperative pain with a partial knee replacement since only part of the knee is operated on. There is generally less disruption to the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Preservation of knee structure: By preserving the healthy parts of the knee, patients may retain more natural knee movement and function.
Shorter hospital stay: Patients often experience a faster recovery time, with less postoperative pain and a shorter hospital stay.
Not all orthopedic surgeons perform partial knee replacements. This procedure requires specific skills and experience, and not all surgeons may have the training or experience to perform it. Surgeons who do partial knee replacements typically have specialized training in this type of surgery and are often associated with centers or practices that focus on advanced knee procedures. When considering a partial knee replacement, it’s important to choose a surgeon who has experience with this specific procedure. This can help ensure the best possible outcomes.
Dr. Brian Fuller is a joint replacement surgeon at OrthoTexas, who has advanced training in minimally invasive knee replacement and specializes in partial knee replacements.
