Don’T Let The Knee Pain Come Between You And Your Loved Ones.

Partial Knee replacement surgery is a much smaller and safer way of treating knee arthritis in as much as 50 percent of patients who have been advised a total knee replacement surgery. Find out if you are a candidate for such a procedure. 
 

What is a Partial Knee replacement? 
A partial knee replacement is an alternative to total knee replacement for many patients with osteoarthritis of the knee when the damage is confined to a limited area of the knee. In a partial knee replacement, only the damaged part of the knee cartilage is replaced with an artificial component. 
Because a partial knee replacement is done through a smaller, less invasive incision, hospitalization is shorter, and rehabilitation and return to normal activities is faster. 
Patients usually experience less postoperative pain, less swelling, and have easier and faster recovery than patients undergoing total knee replacement. In most cases, patients go home 1 to 3 days after the operation. 
 

What are the advantages of partial knee replacement over total knee replacement? 
Compared to total knee replacement, partial knee replacement better preserves range of motion and knee function because it preserves healthy tissue and bone in the knee. For these reasons, patients tend to be more satisfied with partial knee replacement compared with total knee replacement. 
There is also less blood loss during surgery, and knee motion recovers faster with partial knee replacement. 
Partial knee replacement surgery is safer than total knee replacement, according to an Oxford University study published in the medical journal The Lancet. especially in patients with other medical problems like heart disease and Diabetes. 
People undergoing partial knee replacement surgery, have fewer complications, are less likely to be readmitted to hospital and less likely to have serious complications, the researchers have found. 
 

Who is a candidate for partial knee replacement? 
Dr Jayant Arora will ask you to identify the area of pain in your knee, then check your range of motion and the knee's stability and will help you determine off this procedure is suited for you. 
An X-ray of the knee, usually including a stress x-ray, will determine your eligibility for partial knee replacement but final decision to proceed ahead with partial replacement is taken at the time of surgery. 
Patients with Rheumatoid arthritis, significant knee stiffness, or ligament damage may not be ideal candidates. 
As many as 40-50 % of patients presenting to us with severe pain due to knee arthritis are candidates for partial knee replacement surgery. 
 

Patient speak 
“ I was walking with a stick due to bad left knee pain, reluctant to under go total knee replacement surgery at the age of 80, as advised by many doctors. 
I was referred to Dr Arora by one of my relatives, who underwent a total 
knee replacement by him and I was surprised to hear the option of a partial knee replacement. Here I am now, 6 months after my surgery, back on the Golf course, enjoying my life without any pain”….(A.V.M.)Verma 
 
The Author, Dr Jayant Arora is  the Head of Joint replacement surgery at Bone and Joint Institute, Fortis Hospital, Gurgaon and is credited with performing maximum number of Partial Knee replacement surgeries in North India.