If chronic knee pain is degrading your quality of life, a knee replacement surgery might be the right solution for you. But knee replacement doesn’t always mean that your entire knee is going to be replaced with an implant. In procedures like partial knee replacement, only the damaged portion of your knee joint is replaced, restoring movement without harming healthy bone or tissues. This type of surgery is also less painful and faster to heal from.
But not every patient who has damaged knee joints would be recommended for partial knee replacement surgery. They must be declared fit by the surgeon first. In this blog, we’ll discuss the criteria that make someone the right candidate for this surgery and what alternative options are available for those who aren’t eligible.
What is Partial Knee Replacement Surgery?
Our knees have 3 compartments: the medial (inner), lateral (outer), and patellofemoral (front). In Partial knee replacement surgery, one of these 3 compartments —-the one that is damaged —-is replaced with an implant rather than replacing the entire knee. This type of surgery is done to sustain healthy bone and tissues, which further leads to faster recovery and more natural movement.
Are You the Right Candidate for This Procedure
As we have stated earlier, partial knee replacement is not recommended for every patient. Your surgeon first analyzes your knee condition and then decides which type of surgery would deliver the best results. Surgeons consider people a good fit who meet the following criteria:
Osteoarthritis in One Knee Compartment:
If osteoarthritis or damage is only in one compartment of your knee, you will be considered a good fit for the surgery. In cases where the damage has spread over more than one compartment, total knee replacement surgery is often recommended.
Stable Knee Ligaments:
Your knee ligaments, especially the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and PCL (posterior cruciate ligament), must be healthy. These ligaments are responsible for joint stability and smooth implant performance after the surgery.
Good Range of Motion & Minimal Discomfort:
Partial knee replacement is only recommended for those patients whose knees are not extremely damaged. Knee pain while doing activities can be treated with this procedure. However, if you struggle to bend your knees or feel pain while at rest, it indicates severe damage. Such cases require total knee replacement surgery.
Moderate Activity Level:
If your activity levels are moderate, which means that you don’t engage in high-intensity activities, this surgery would be a good fit. Engaging in activities that put excessive pressure on the knee joints might affect the implant’s life.
Alternative Options for Partial Knee Replacement
Total knee replacement surgery is a very good option for people who have severely damaged knee joints and are living a painful and restricted life. This surgery helps in restoring complete knee health, enabling people to go back to their active lifestyle again.
Though traditional total knee replacement surgeries are a bit invasive and sometimes painful as well, modern procedures like robotic knee replacement surgery have improved the patient experience to a great extent.
The use of high-end robotic systems has made the procedure highly precise, minimally invasive, and also faster. Patients who have chosen the robotic procedure over the traditional one have experienced less pain during the surgery, less post-operative discomfort, and faster recovery, too. Most of them were able to walk within 24 hours and recovered fully within 4-6 weeks.
Ending Note:
At Sohana Hospital, we understand how different every knee is — and so is the care it needs. With advanced robotic technologies (CUVIS Joint Robotic System) and surgeons having two decades of experience, we strive to provide the best knee replacement care to each patient.
Here, it doesn’t end with the surgery. From the first X-ray to follow-up checks, our experts guide you at each step so that your knees stay strong and your life comfortable.
Knee problems? Take a step towards a pain-free knee movement —-visit Sohana Hospital today!
