All You Would Want To Know About Partial Knee Replacement Surgery

All You Would Want To Know About Partial Knee Replacement Surgery

Partial knee replacement, as the name suggests, is where only part of the knee joint is replaced with new prostheses. The entire knee is not removed; instead only the infected part is replaced with plastic or metallic components. This helps to retain the healthy compartments of the knee joint, while replacing only the damaged areas. This option is when there is only limited damage done to the knee bone; for example when only one or two compartments are injured.

When is partial knee replacement suggested?

Arthritis may occur in only one or all three of the knee compartments. The medial compartment is the most frequently affected component of the knee. You will likely be advised by your surgeon to undergo a partial knee replacement, instead of a total knee replacement, when such is the case with you, that is, only one or two compartments of your knee are deteriorated. If your anterior cruciate ligament is intact, and you have a good alignment of your joints, a total knee replacement is generally avoided, and partial knee replacement is performed on the damaged weight-bearing surfaces.

How is partial knee replacement surgery performed?

During a partial knee replacement procedure, the damaged surfaces will be reshaped, and the repaired surfaces will then be partially covered with a combination of metal and plastic bearings, and resurfaced with a Cobalt-Chrome implant. In this way, all the healthy ligaments, cartilage, and bones in your knee joint will be retained. So, we can see how a partial knee replacement does not disturb the healthy tissues of the knee. This helps the knee joint to bend better and function more naturally than in the case of a total knee replacement. Because the implants used in partial knee replacement are much smaller than those used in total knee replacement, they require only small incisions of up to 3-4 inches to be made for insertion. After the procedure is complete, a sub-cuticular suture is inserted just beneath the skin.

What kinds of implants are used in a partial knee replacement surgery?

The implants used in partial knee replacement surgery are specially designed. Each compartment of the knee can be individually affected by arthritis, and there is a specially designed implant for each. If only a single compartment is to be replaced, the surgeon uses a unicondylar fixed/mobile bearing knee implant. If the arthritis has affected two knee compartments, bicompartmental knee replacement can be performed. However, if the arthritis has progressed to all the compartments of the knee, a total knee replacement in Bangalore needs to be performed.

Is partial knee replacement better than total knee replacement?

Generally, the effects of a partial knee replacement surgery are expected to last for 10-12 years, depending upon the age, weight, and activity level of the patient. Moreover, this surgery is preferred over total knee replacement because it involves a smaller scar and lesser blood loss, which results in comparatively lesser post-surgery pain, better range of motion, and a quicker recovery. However, you could be prone to certain risks after the surgery. These could include blood clots, implant loosening, fractures, and nerve or blood vessel damage. But, such risks are generally very rare to occur. Nevertheless, after a partial knee replacement surgery, it is possible that you could need a revision surgery in the future, if your arthritis progresses and damages the other compartments of your knee.

So, you can see both partial knee replacement and total knee replacement surgeries have their own pros and cons. So, leave it to your surgeon to decide upon which surgery is better for your particular condition. Also, it is he who will determine the most appropriate implant design and material for your condition. However, Aditi Corporation is one of the most trusted names when it comes to providing the required implants for total knee replacement in Bangalore. We have been proven to be a leading distributor of innovative and original knee care products from reputed brands like Maxx, Merill, and Heraeus.