Partial knee replacement surgery is an excellent alternative to total knee replacement surgery designed for patients with minimal damage to the knee joint. When it is only found in a small knee area, doctors don’t need to resurface all the articulation. They will perform a smaller incision and the recovery time is lower.
Still, many patients do not understand everything about partial knee replacement surgery and need to clear some doubts that cause anxiety and stress.
The following questions are often asked by patients who are considering undergoing surgery:
What is partial knee replacement? Is it a good idea to have the surgery? How long will the surgery take? What are the risks of the surgery? What happens during the recovery period? What complications can occur after the surgery? Will the surgery be painful? Can I return to work after surgery?
This article will answer some of these questions, and those related to the recovery period will be addressed in detail in another article you’re welcome to visit. But for now, let’s take a closer look at this procedure and what patients need to know about it.
What is a partial knee replacement surgery?
Partial knee replacement surgery is also known as unicompartmental knee replacement surgery because doctors will isolate only a part of it and work on it instead of working on the whole knee. That’s why it is also known as partial knee replacement. Still, it is considered a misnomer for some because, as you will see below, your knee won’t be replaced technically but resurfaced instead.
In partial knee replacement surgery, a surgeon will cut out all the cartilage from one compartment of your knee. This surgery involves replacing your damaged meniscus and a portion of your tibia, making room for a new plastic or metal implant. The surgeon will then remove the worn-out part of your bone and use a special tool to smooth the area down so it can accept the new implant. The surgeon will then put a plastic or metal implant into the area where the bone was removed. This will be attached with screws and/or cement. After this is done, the bone will heal and grow around the new implant.
A prosthetic component can replace the bone in partial knee replacement surgery. The femoral bone is typically resurfaced using metal, plastic, or ceramic implant.