There is no upper or lower age limit for partial knee replacement.
All surgeries result in some pain. While pain after partial knee replacement varies by patient, typically patients experience less pain and stiffness following partial knee replacement than they do after total knee replacement.
Although not all patients are able to return to unrestricted sports activity, most patients are able to resume biking, golf, tennis and skiing.
Partial knee replacement usually involves minimal blood loss and is associated with a low rate of complications. As with any joint replacement surgery, complications may include instability of the knee, loosening of the implant, infection, nerve injury and deep vein thrombosis. Generally, complications occur less frequently after partial knee replacement than they do following total knee replacement. Be sure to discuss any concerns you have regarding these or other issues with your surgeon.
One of the advantages of partial knee is that the recovery is faster and hence many patients go home within 48 hours. Others may take longer.
Please ensure that your wound is covered with the dressings and kept dry until the clips/sutures are removed. You can take shower keeping the wound covered with plastic. Contact our clinic if you see discharge or bleeding from the wound.
Yes. This is an extremely important part of the recovery as only you can get the movement and strength back in your knee. They aim to stop your knee getting stiff and to strengthen the muscles. It is common to have pain immediately after surgery and for some weeks. Use pain medication to control the pain and do not be frightened to gently move your knee joint and walk. Initially the best exercise will be moving the knee during normal, gentle activities. You cannot damage the surgery that has been done but overall let the pain settle before over-challenging the knee. Follow the advice from your physiotherapist.
There are no restrictions (other than the pain) to movement although kneeling on your knee is not recommended until about 6 weeks after surgery.
Drive once you are no longer using your crutches or sticks and feel you can be in complete control of your vehicle. For most patients it may be possible to drive at around 6 weeks depending on how quickly you are recovering.
Returning to work depends on your level of mobility and your job but you must avoid any strenuous activities for at least three months (for example lifting heavy objects). Ask your consultant and physiotherapist about specific work related or sporting activities.
Research shows that 80% of patients will still have a well functioning partial knee at 20 years after surgery.
Partial knee replacement is a more complex operation to perform than total knee. It requires special training and expertise on part of operating surgeon, not all surgeons are trained in partial knee, that is why very few surgeons offer this option to their patients. In addition to that, surgeons and patients have fear of progression of arthritis in other compartments of knee, requiring another operation.
Partial knee can be performed in presence of bowing of leg, provided deformity is correctable to pre-arthritis level. This procedure will restore natural alignment of the knee.
It can be, but operating two knees at a time will put more stress on body and increase the risk of complications. It is safer to perform one knee at a time. Usually, two knees can be safely performed at an interval of six weeks.
In majority of patients, arthritis starts from inner compartment of knee. Other compartments are damaged secondary to progression of deformity and ligament damage. If we correct alignment at early stage of the disease, arthritis will not progress to other parts.
This can happen if patient has inflammatory arthropathy, partial knee should be avoided in such cases. This can also happen if ligament is damaged. If this happens, total knee replacement can be performed.
