Did you know you can opt for partial knee replacement when osteoarthritis damage has affected only one compartment of your knee?
In cases like these, your orthopedic surgeon replaces only the damaged part of your knee. However, it is worth mentioning that is more common in young and active people. Thanks to painless and quick recovery, this treatment is a viable option for many people who fear undergoing full knee replacement.
Competent Orthopedic surgeons, such as Dr. Derek L. Hill, can help you restore stable and smooth knee movement with years of clinical expertise. However, it is important to ensure that you’re eligible for treatment like partial knee replacement.
If you’re considering undergoing partial knee replacement, keep reading to find out whether it is the right choice for you.
Partial Knee Replacement- What it is
A partial knee replacement is an effective alternative to a full knee replacement for people who suffer from knee osteoarthritis.
As mentioned above, you can go for this solution if you have damaged a particular part of the knee. In a partial knee replacement, your orthopedic surgeon replaces the damaged or injured part of your knee cartilage with a prosthesis.
Gone are the days when partial knee replacement was only an option for older patients with knee issues.
It is because they are engaged in relatively fewer physical activities. Now, many young people with osteoarthritis are opting for a partial knee replacement as it is less painful and entails quicker recovery.
The latest survey found that more than 5 percent to 6 percent of individuals with arthritic knees can opt for partial knee replacement treatment.
Who is the Right Candidate
People with lateral or medial knee osteoarthritis are considered the best candidates for partial knee replacement.
"Medial" is the inside compartment of the knee joint. It is the closest compartment to the opposite knee. "Lateral,” on the other hand, is the outside compartment of the knee joint. It is furthermost from the opposite knee.
In arthritis, the most common deformity is Medial knee joint degeneration. Some other factors or reasons to consider:
You may choose a knee replacement if the knee pain becomes severe or persists despite anti-inflammatory drug treatment and healthy weight.
Your doctors will identify the pain areas in the knee and assess the motion and mobility range of your joint. He can evaluate the stability of your knee. An x-ray of the joint will determine whether you make the right candidate for the partial knee replacement.
Otherwise, your surgeon will not be able to figure out if you’re the right candidate until your surgery has begun.
You need to have enough knee motion range, an intact or undamaged anterior cruciate ligament, damage to one compartment, and a steady knee to undergo partial knee replacement treatment. Your surgeon will also consider deformity angulations to do the surgery.
Summing Up
All in all, partial knee replacement treatment was used to be for older adults or people over 60 years of age. As the treatment is an easy solution to fix the damaged knee part, many active people are opting for it.
Call at Hill Orthopedics to make an appointment and explore your options for partial knee replacement treatment
Links
https://www.hss.edu/conditions_partial-knee-replacement.asp