Dr Tarandeep Singh Gill — MS Ortho, MCh Ortho
Director – Joint Replacement & Robotic Surgery · RoboLens FT3D Pioneer · Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mohali
Knee pain can range from mildly inconveniencing to severely limiting everyday activities beyond walking. Stair climbing, standing, or just getting out of a chair can be problematic. While many mild to moderate knee issues can be managed with medication, physical therapy, exercise and lifestyle modifications, advanced stages of arthritis in some sections of the knee can necessitate surgery. Some people with knee arthritis may be candidates for partial knee replacement Mohali surgery and can avoid total knee replacement surgery.
What is Partial Knee Replacement?
Unlike total knee replacement, where the majority of damaged surfaces of the knee joint are replaced, partial knee replacement salvages the undamaged portions of the joint. Partial knee replacement is also known as unicompartmental knee replacement.
The knee has three significant compartments, including the medial compartment (the innermost), the lateral compartment (the outermost), and the patellofemoral compartment (the knee cap and the thigh bone). Partial knee replacement surgery may be appropriate when arthritis primarily affects one of these sections of the knee, and the adjacent portions of the knee are unaffected.
Who May Be an Ideal Candidate?
Deciding on what is the appropriate surgery for knee arthritis to employ is not necessarily a matter of commitment to any particular surgery, but rather a process of careful evaluation.
- Arthritis Limited to One Part of the Knee
Where the damage to the joint occurs will dictate what type of procedure is advisable. For patients who have arthritis limited to a single compartment of the knee, a partial knee replacement may be an option.
Imaging techniques will give a surgeon the location and extent of the damage to the cartilage and bone. X-rays, and sometimes other imaging techniques, may be required for this.
- Healthy Ligaments
The knee ligaments will also be of importance. For most partial knee replacement surgeries, the ACL and other surrounding structures will also need to be intact.
If there is significant damage to the ligaments or if there is significant instability, then this surgery may not be appropriate.
- Persistent Symptoms Despite Non-Surgical Treatment
An approach other than a partial knee replacement will be first tried. This may include physiotherapy, varying the type and intensity of the activities, weight loss if appropriate, exercises, medications, and a number of other options.
If non-surgical management is not successful, surgery can be discussed.
- Good Overall Knee Function
If pain and restricted function are present even though other parts of the knee are functioning and moving well, then this surgery may be considered.
The surgeon will consider many other factors before advising the surgery, including the alignment of the knee, the range of motion, or the stability of the ligaments and the condition of the other compartments.
- Realistic Expectations
It is important to understand the limits of a partial knee replacement surgery. The goal is to relieve pain and restore some of the function of the joint while keeping as much of the normal joint tissue as possible.
Patients should know that recovery from surgery requires rehabilitation, followed by a customized therapy program to meet the patient’s goals. An in-person specialist is able to provide this patient specific guidance.
Who May Not Be Suitable for Partial Knee Replacement?
Partial knee replacement may not be an option if there is multi-compartment knee arthritis, significant ligament instability, significant deformity, inflammatory arthritis, or other related conditions.
Suitability for partial knee replacement surgery is based on a number of factors. For example, a patient who appears unsuitable for partial knee replacement based on one factor may need more than one assessment to determine if they are a candidate for the procedure.
Because of the above factors, a specialist evaluation is required before partial knee replacement surgery in Mohali can be approved.
How Is Candidacy Evaluated?
A thorough evaluation of a patient by an orthopedic specialist includes:
- A detailed medical history
- A physical evaluations of the knee
- Pain and mobility evaluations
- An assessment of knee alignment
- An assessment of knee stability
- X-rays and other tests and imaging, if necessary
- An assessment of the knee ligaments
An assessment of the patient’s overall health and whether the patient is able to safely undergo surgery
The surgeon may recommend partial knee replacement or determine that another option may be more appropriate.
What Are Some Potential Results of Partial Knee Replacement in Mohali?
Appropriate patients of partial knee replacement may have several-fold benefits. The healthy parts of the knee are preserved when only the diseased portions of the knee are replaced.
Some of the advantages can include preserving more of the natural knee and a potentially smaller surgical area and a possibly quicker recovery compared to some total knee replacements. However, each person recovers differently and these should not be considered definite.
What is Recovery Like?
Recovery from partial knee replacement surgery is usually a rehabilitation program that begins with patients performing some movements and physical therapy as soon as they are able to as advised by the surgeon.
Recovery involves range of motion exercises, muscle strengthening rehabilitation, improving balance, and returning to your previous level of daily activities.
Recovery involves following all your surgeon’s postoperative recommendations and keeping follow-up appointments.
The Importance of Specialist Evaluation
Deciding on a partial knee replacement compared to a total knee replacement is not a decision to take lightly and is impacted by numerous factors. The type of knee replacement surgery depends on the location of arthritis, the stability of the ligaments, the degree of arthritis throughout the knee, age, activity level, overall health, and several other factors.
For a partial knee replacement Mohali, you must find a skilled orthopedic surgeon who explains your diagnosis and gives you treatment options before determining the optimal course of treatment.
In Conclusion
Healthy people with arthritis that impacted just a single compartment of their knee joint can be great candidates for partial knee replacement Mohali.
There are many factors involved to determine if a candidate is optimal and surgery is justified. A thorough clinical evaluation and imaging are necessary.
If persistent knee pain has impacted your mobility and quality of life, see an orthopaedic specialist to determine if you are a candidate for partial knee replacement or other procedures.
