The knee joint is divided into 3 compartments:
- The medial compartment on the inner side of the knee
- The lateral compartment on the outer side of the knee
- The patellofemoral compartment formed by the knee cap & the thigh bone
Arthritis may occur in either one, two, or all three compartments of the knee. Localized damage to the knee mostly occurs in the medial compartment, less commonly in the lateral and patellofemoral compartments of the knee.
When the damage to the knee joint is limited to a single compartment, only the damaged surfaces of the bone can be removed and the bone surface reshaped using specialized instruments. Minimally invasive partial knee surgery involves the replacement of only the damaged portions of the knee while retaining the healthy parts or compartments of the knee. The potential advantages of a partial knee replacements are:
- Smaller surgical scars
- Less blood loss
- Minimal injury to healthy tissue
- Faster recovery
- Reduced post-surgical pain
- Better range of motion
- More natural feel to the knee
You may be a candidate for partial knee replacement if arthritic damage is limited to only one side of your knee, the supporting knee ligaments are tendons are in good condition, and there is no significant deformity around the knee.
If you’re ready to treat your arthritic knee pain, contact us to see if a bone-conserving partial knee replacement is the right treatment for you.
