Easing Knee Pain: Your Guide For Partial Knee Replacement Surgery

What is partial knee replacement?

A partial knee replacement surgery is a surgical procedure that involves replacing the damaged portion of the knee joint, typically the inner side, with an artificial prosthesis. The specific part of the knee requiring replacement is restored using metal and plastic components.

Patients with osteoarthritis often experience damage in only one compartment of the knee. Hence, it is more practical to replace only that specific part rather than the entire knee. During a partial knee replacement, the ligaments in the front and back of the knee remain unaffected. This approach aims to preserve the natural structure and movement of the body as much as possible.

Compared to a full joint replacement procedure, a partial joint replacement is less invasive for the body. It involves minimal damage to the soft surrounding tissues and adjacent bones. Consequently, patients who undergo a partial knee replacement typically experience a faster recovery. However, it is worth noting that the revision rate for partial knee replacements may be higher than that of total knee replacements.

When is partial knee replacement surgery recommended?

Partial knee replacement surgery is recommended for individuals who meet the following criteria:

1. Osteoarthritis of the knee: People diagnosed with osteoarthritis in their knee joint may be suitable candidates for this procedure.
2. Damage limited to one knee compartment: The knee damage should be restricted to only one compartment of the knee joint. If the damage extends to multiple compartments, a total knee replacement may be more appropriate.
3. Ineffective response to medications: If the knee pain doesn’t improve with medications or other conservative treatments, a partial knee replacement might be considered.
4. Persistent knee pain despite a healthy lifestyle and weight management: When knee pain continues despite maintaining a healthy lifestyle and achieving an optimum weight, a partial knee replacement may be a potential option to alleviate the discomfort.
5. Intact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL): The ACL, one of the major ligaments in the knee, should be undamaged for a partial knee replacement. If the ACL is also affected, a different surgical approach may be required.
6. Corresponding radiology findings and symptoms: Radiological imaging should support the presence of arthritis limited to one compartment of the knee. The symptoms experienced by the individual should align with the findings from diagnostic imaging.
7. Arthritis causing inflammation or acute knee stiffness: Partial knee replacement may be suitable for individuals with arthritis that causes inflammation or those experiencing acute knee stiffness.

Also Read: Who needs to have meniscus tear surgery?

Partial knee replacement surgery: With highly effective 3D Printed Knee Replacement Technology

Dr. Sartawi specializes in partial knee replacement procedures using advanced 3D printing technology. This technique, combined with our efficient ‘same-day surgery‘ approach, offers numerous benefits such as:

1. 3D HD imaging: Create a detailed 3D image of the prospective joint, enabling a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s anatomy and facilitating optimal implant selection.
2. Enhanced surgical approach: Utilize 3D-guided technology to improve the positioning, tilting, and fixation of the prosthesis, resulting in superior surgical outcomes and longevity of the joint replacement.

With 3D printing, customized surgical instruments specifically tailored to each patient’s unique joint replacement needs are created. These instruments ensure accurate positioning of the implant, leading to better surgical outcomes, quicker recovery, enhanced soft tissue balancing, and proper implant fixation. 

Benefits of partial knee replacement surgery

Partial knee replacement surgeries offer the following benefits

1. A better outcome for arthritis patients: The success of the surgery is more influenced by the type of arthritis rather than the patient’s age.
2. Suitable for all ages: PKR is beneficial for people of any age, allowing younger individuals to preserve more bone for potential future revision surgeries.
3. Reduced stress for the elderly: PKR is a less stressful procedure for the elderly, resulting in less pain and a lower risk of bleeding.
4. Less invasive: PKR is a minimally invasive procedure involving a smaller incision and removing only the damaged part of the bone.

Expectations from partial knee replacement surgery:

You can expect the following events while having partial knee replacement surgery

1. Assessment and surgery: After the assessment, the procedure will be performed.
2. Minimal pain: You can expect minimal or tolerable pain for a few days after surgery.
3. Less invasive: The procedure is less invasive compared to a complete knee replacement.
4. Hospital stay: You may not need to stay for one or two days in the hospital.
5. Recovery period: The recovery period for this procedure is around six to eight weeks.
6. Joint mobility improvement: Exercises and activities will be prescribed to improve joint mobility, particularly for medial knee pain.
7. Swelling reduction: Swelling will gradually subside within a few weeks.
8. Rehabilitation: Physiotherapy and motion exercises will be a part of your rehabilitation to strengthen knee muscles.
9. Medication instructions: Continue taking pain medications and other prescriptions as instructed by the doctor.
10. Cost factors: The cost of the knee operation depends on your joint condition and the specific type of surgery required.

Contact Dr. Sartawi for quick and efficient Same-Day Knee Replacement Surgery

Recovery from partial knee replacements is really fast, within 4 hours, especially when you have it from the pioneer of same-day knee replacement surgeon Dr. Muthana Sartawi. He has performed approximately 2500 total knee replacement surgeries with a 97% success rate using his new technique.

To get the benefits of fast-recovering knee replacement surgery in Dubai, get in touch with Dr. Sartawi’s team.