Pros and Cons of partial knee replacement, Is this the best option?

One of the most popular surgical procedures in the US is partial knee replacement. If nonsurgical treatment for your severe osteoarthritis has failed, surgery may be required.

The procedure is quite effective at reducing pain and enhancing function. However, it is a significant procedure with a lengthy recovery period. With a partial knee replacement, some persons with severe osteoarthritis of the knee can achieve comparable results with a quicker recovery and additional advantages. In this topic, we will discuss the pros and cons of partial knee replacement but before that point, Let’s discuss what is partial knee replacement?. Are you eligible for it, and do you really need it or not? 

What is a partial knee replacement?

Surgery (arthroplasty) to replace damaged bone and cartilage with an artificial implant is known as a partial knee replacement. The knee’s healthy bone, cartilage, and ligaments are all still present.

Only those with knee arthritis that affects only one compartment can benefit from this surgery. This is so that the remaining portions of the knee can sustain the partial replacement.

Osteoarthritis is typically brought on by the “medial” joint’s inner cartilage degenerating. The only alternative available to you is to get a total knee replacement if your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has been damaged or if osteoarthritis has spread to the entire knee.

One in four persons with knee osteoarthritis can benefit from a partial arthroplasty.

Am I Eligible For it?

Let’s first look at what can qualify a person for this unusual operation before discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the process. Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects the soft cartilage that covers the ends of bones and facilitates smooth joint movement. The three points where bones come into contact with one another in the knee joint are a result of the construction of the knee. There are three “compartments” of the knee that are vulnerable to damage because they come into touch with the inner, outside, and kneecap inside the joint.

The health of each compartment as you age is comparable since cartilage in these locations typically goes down at a similar rate in most people. However, you can be qualified for a partial knee replacement if you sustain an injury or if a gait problem accelerates the deterioration of one compartment while the remaining compartments continue to function reasonably well. Only the injured portion of the knee joint would be replaced as opposed to the full joint, protecting more of the healthy joint.

Do I need knee replacement surgery?

A knee replacement, often known as a “arthroplasty,” entails relining the knee joint because the smooth cartilage that covers the bones has gotten worn (osteoarthritis). This frequently happens as a result of trauma, normal wear and tear, or illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis.

Surgery may be the next course of action if painkillers, lubricant or steroid injections, or physiotherapy are ineffective. If the cartilage in a knee joint has entirely worn away, exposing the underlying bone, knee replacement surgery would be necessary. This can be determined by an X-ray.

pros and cons of partial knee replacement

Pros 

The benefit of a partial knee treatment, according to Dr. Breien, is that your knee will feel more normal after surgery. “We keep the ACL and PCL ligaments intact, for instance, when we partially replace a kneecap. These ligaments communicate with the brain by flexing and tensing. Those ligaments in the knee are still communicating with the brain after surgery. Patients who have had partial knee replacment surgery say the discomfort has gone and their knee feels the same.

However, total knee replacements require some getting accustomed to. Dr. Breien notes that after a total knee replacement, the implant “doesn’t talk to your brain as your previous knee used to.” And the less you probably love the way a total knee replacement feels the younger you are. My total knee replacement patients in their 70s and 80s are overjoyed to be able to walk pain-free. Depending on each patient’s degree of activity, patients over 60 will experience varying levels of happiness. An active 50-year-old will be relieved that their knee is pain-free, but getting used to the implant’s sensation can be difficult. It is more challenging to get used to the feeling of a total knee replacement as you get younger.

Cons 

If we talk about the disadvantages of partial knee replacement, According to Dr, partial knee replacement doesn’t typically last as long as a total one. At the 20-year mark, some partials are still functional at a rate of roughly 85%. When they do fail, the implant typically does not come loose. It is a result of the knee’s overall degeneration throughout the intervening years. At that point, we switch from a partial to a full knee replacement. Comparatively speaking, that is a considerably simpler transition than going from one total knee replacement to another.

Is a partial knee replacement worth it?

Knee partial replacement preserves range of motion and knee function better than total knee replacement because it preserves healthy tissue and bone in the knee. Patients are typically more satisfied with partial knee replacement than with total knee replacement for these reasons.

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