Partial knee Replacement (Button surgery)

There are two types of Partial Knee Replacement:

• Unicondylar Knee Replacement is a procedure that replaces only the single affected compartment of the knee, either the medial or lateral compartment.
• Patellofemoral Knee Replacement is a procedure that replaces the worn patella (the kneecap) and the trochlea (the groove at the end of the thighbone).

Why the Procedure is Performed?

The most common reason to have a knee joint replaced is to ease severe arthritic pain.

Go for Knee Surgery if;

• You can’t sleep through the night because of knee pain.
• Your knee pain prevents you from doing daily activities.
• Your knee pain is not getting better with other treatments.

Partial knee arthroplasty may be a good choice if :

• You are older & medium built.
• You do not have very bad arthritis on the other side of the knee or under the kneecap.
• You have only a minor deformity in the knee.
• You have a good range of motion in your knee.
• The ligaments in your knee are stable.

However, most people with knee arthritis are recommended for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) because surgeons are usually not trained for UKA. The technical know-how is still very less in India.

Benefits of Partial knee

• Very Rapid Recovery
• Incision of 2.5 to 3.0 inches
• More natural feel especially when using stairs
• No systemic side effects as compared to total knee
• Can walk the same day of surgery
• Selected patients can undergo it as a daycare surgery
• Able to sit cross-legged and squat after surgery
• Some patients are able to resume office after 3 days & can play golf, drive, climb stairs within a week

After the Procedure

You may need to stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days. Most people are able to go home the day after surgery. You can put your full weight on your knee right away.

After you return home, you should try to do as much as you can within your pain tolerance. This includes going to the bathroom or taking walks in the hallways with help. You will also need light exercises and ice packs application to improve your range of motion and strengthen the muscles around the knee.