Partial Knee Replacement

Partial knee replacement is a surgery performed to only replace a damaged part of the knee, it is sometimes referred to as Unicompartmental knee replacement. In this, the damaged tissue and bone in the knee joint are replaced with the artificial implants called prosthetics and the rest of the knee remains unharmed and preserved. This surgery involves smaller incisions and requires less healing time.

SYMPTOMS & SIGNS
DIAGNOSIS

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS OF KNEE PAIN

Swelling and stiffness
Inability to fully straighten the knee
Weakness or instability
Pain while walking
Difficulty to bend the knee
Popping sound in knee movement

DIAGNOSIS

Your orthopaedic doctor will ask some general health and knee pain related specific questions. The doctor will be able to diagnose knee problems from the symptoms and physical examination of the knee that will include a maximum range of motion, ligament stability, tenderness and swelling.

The doctor may order imaging tests such as X-ray, MRI, CT scan and Ultrasound for viewing injuries in ligaments, tendons, muscles and cartilage. Lab tests may be required in some cases, to check for any kind of infection and cause of inflammation

PROCEDURE

Partial knee replacement is a minimally invasive knee surgery which involves smaller incisions than traditional knee surgery. It decreases the amount of post-operative pain and shortens the rehabilitation period.

Surgeons perform partial knee replacement surgeries on patients who are under below 65 years and have plenty of healthy bone remaining.

General anaesthesiais administered in the patient’s body for making the procedure pain-free. A cut of about 3 to 5 inches is made and the damaged bone tissues are removed. An artificial implant is placed into the knee and attached with the bone cement. The wounds are closed with stitches.

It is an out-patient procedure and has a faster recovery rate compared to total knee replacement surgery.

How long does partial knee procedure time?

The surgery usually takes one to two hours and involves minimal invasion.

Who can undergo partial knee surgery?

Partial knee replacement surgery is not for everyone This minimally-invasive knee replacement surgery treats only certain knee problems.Patients with inflammatory arthritis and diffuse arthritis throughout the knee are not advised for receiving partial knee surgery.

Effectiveness and recovery

Patients who have partial knee surgery are likely to experience minimal pain that can be controlled with pain medications. Recovery can be fastened by practising regular physical exercises. Patients are encouraged to walk and bear as much weight on the leg as they are comfortable.

PROS AND CONS OF PARTIAL KNEE SURGERY

There are numerous advantages of partial knee replacement but also a few disadvantages

Pros	Cons
Minimally Invasive	Risk of implants wearing out
Quick Recovery	Potential for additional surgery if arthritis develops in other parts of the knee.
Minimal Discomfort
Natural knee motion
No long-term activity restrictions
Low complications related to total knee replacement
All ligaments are retained

PREVENTION

Maintaining a healthy weight can prevent the knee from experiencing stress due to extra pounds, reducing the risk of injuries and osteoarthritis.
Do balanced strength and stability training exercises.
Invest in right quality insoles and footwear
Do knee stretching exercises
Massage the knee joint by applying pain-relieving gel in case of pain
Apply hot and cold packs in case of swelling and stiffness

Patient Experience

FATHMA BENAZZOUZ

I had knee replacement surgery back in 2019, and since then, I suffered from severe knee pain for more than a year and four months. So, I decided to do a knee surgery and was referred to Dr. Allaeldin Elbadawi. I met Dr. Elbadawi and had all the necessary medical procedures conducted, following which I was informed that I am suffering from a partial roughness of the knee.