A partial knee replacement or a unicompartmental knee replacement is a procedure that involves replacing part of the knee to restore normal function. Candidates for a partial knee replacement usually have knees that are affected by osteoarthritis.
With knee osteoarthritis, the cartilage, which serves as a protective layer over the joints, is progressively wearing away. As a result, the bones that make up a joint begin to rub against each other, causing symptoms such as pain, swelling, and stiffness. With time, chronic inflammation causes damage to the structures of the knee.
Whereas a total knee replacement involves replacing the entire joint, a partial knee replacement involves just replacing a part of it.
Signs You Need a Partial Knee Replacement
If you are wondering whether a partial knee replacement is right for you, below are some factors that may influence an orthopedic surgeon’s recommendation.
You may be the right candidate for a partial knee replacement if:
- You are experiencing persistent knee pain and other symptoms
- The affected knee is stable and has a relatively good range of motion
- Damage from osteoarthritis is confined to just one compartment of the knee
- Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which is the ligament in the middle of your knee joint, is intact
- There is damage to the cartilage only, and replacing it will help improve knee function and ease symptoms
- You have medial (inside compartment of the joint) or lateral (outside compartment of the joint) knee osteoarthritis
The knee replacement surgeon will need to evaluate your knee to determine whether a partial knee replacement will benefit you. They will need to perform a physical exam of the affected knee, as well as take an X-ray of it to help with making an assessment.
Benefits of a Partial Knee Replacement
Since a partial knee replacement involves preserving as much healthy tissue and bone as possible, patients are able to maintain their knee’s stability, range of motion, and function. Being a smaller procedure, it entails less pain and a faster recovery, with rehabilitation lasting as little as three weeks. For those reasons, partial knee replacements have a high patient satisfaction rate. Moreover, since a replacement is performed in just one compartment of the knee, partial knee replacement patients report feeling better and like themselves in no time.
To get positive outcomes from a partial knee replacement and to minimize the risk of complications, choose a highly experienced orthopedic surgeon for your procedure. Although a partial knee replacement means you spend less time in the hospital, it is still considered major surgery. For orthopedic surgery, you want only the most experienced surgeon in your area.
Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeons in Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, FL
At the Advanced Orthopedic Center, we have Dr. Nicholas Connors, Dr. Jason Reiss, and Dr. Jacob Pennington, board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons that perform knee replacement surgeries. All three surgeons regularly perform total and partial knee replacement procedures, as well as highly difficult revision surgeries.
Dr. Connors and Dr. Pennington perform knee replacement surgeries using Makoplasty robotic technology, which benefits our patients through more reproducible results, less soft tissue damage, more precise and personalized implant position to match each patient’s anatomy. Dr. Connors has been doing Mako robotic joint replacements since 2010. Dr. Reiss devotes his practice to joint reconstruction and complex revisions. He is especially skilled in knee reconstruction and arthroscopy. He does the most joint replacement volume in the entire county and is often among the top 10 within the state of Florida.
Because of their skill, experience, and compassionate instinct – taking time to listen and answer his patients’ questions – the surgeons at Advanced Orthopedic Center have become the most trusted and well-respected knee replacement surgeons in southwest Florida. To schedule a consultation with any of these surgeons, call our office today at (941) 629-6262, or use our convenient appointment request form.
