Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

In the process of knee replacement surgery, damaged bone and cartilage is resurfaced with metal and plastic components and pieces. When it comes to unicompartmental knee replacement—often referred to as partial knee replacement—only a portion of the knee is resurfaced. This surgical procedure is one alternative to total knee replacements for patients who may have problems with only a part of their knee.

Thanks to a partial knee replacement being performed through a smaller incision, patients will spend less time recovering and return to their lives faster than those who have undergone a total knee replacement.

Your doctor will discuss with you the options that will most effectively fix your specific and unique situation and symptoms.

Before Surgery

You will be admitted into the hospital on the day of your surgery.

Prior to the surgery taking place, a doctor from the anesthesia team will discuss your different anesthetic options. You will have also had this conversation with your surgeon before during one of your visits. Anesthesia options include:

• General anesthesia (you are put to sleep)
• Spinal (you are awake, but your body is numb from the waist down)

The surgeon will also come visit you prior to surgery and sign your knee in order to verify where the surgery will take place.

Procedure

A standard partial knee replacement surgery usually takes about an hour. The surgeon will take a close look at the three compartments of your knee in order to verify that the cartilage damage is only limited to just one compartment. They are also verifying that your ligaments are still intact.

If, after closer inspection, your surgeon feels as though the knee is not suitable for partial knee replacement, he may opt to perform a total knee replacement. This contingency plan will have been discussed with you in great detail well before the day of your surgery.

There are three basic steps to the partial knee replacement procedure:

• Preparation of the bone—Your surgeon will utilize special saws in order to remove cartilage from the damaged compartment of the knee.
• Positioning of the metal implants—The removed cartilage and bone will be replaced with metal coverings that are intended to mimic the surface of your natural joint. These parts are held in pace with cement.
• Spacer insertion—A plastic insert will be positioned between two metal components in order to create a smooth gliding surface.

Once your surgery has been completed, you will be taken to a recovery room where nurses will closely monitor your recovery from anesthesia. After this, you will be transported to your hospital room.

Whether you believe it or not, the ultimate success of your surgery will depend upon how well you follow the instructions given to you by your doctor for when you are at home.

Wound Care

You will have stitches or staples running down along your wound, or you will have a suture beneath your skin on the front of your knee. While some suture does not require any removal, staples will be removed a few weeks after surgery, once the doctor has confirmed you are healing properly.

You must be sure to avoid soaking the wound in water until it has thoroughly sealed and dried. Continual bandaging of your wound will also be required. This may mean changing bandages several times a day at first.

Diet

It is common for patients who have undergone knee replacement to experience a loss of appetite for a few weeks following the surgery. A balanced diet, sometimes supported with an iron supplement, is important in assisting your wound’s healing process and restoring muscular strength.

Activity

Exercise is actually very important during the first few weeks after surgery when you are at home. In most cases, normal daily living activities can be resumed shortly after your procedure. Pain in and around your knee is common and will last for a few weeks to several months.

Your at-home activity schedule should include the following:

• A walking program that will increase your mobility over time. First inside, then outside.
• Slowly and carefully resuming normal household activities such as sitting, standing, and climbing stairs.
• Specific exercises that are to be performed several times a day to restore movement and strengthen your knee. Most can perform these exercises with little to no help, however some people may need the assistance of a physical therapist for a few weeks.

When it comes to driving a car, this is something that will be permitted only so long as your knee bends enough that you can enter into and sit comfortably within your car. What’s more, your muscles must be in good enough shape so that you can both brake and use the gas pedal without any strain. You must also be done using strong pain medications that can alter your judgement and reaction time. It usually takes about a month to six weeks before people can begin driving.