For the right patient, a partial knee replacement procedure can be the perfect way to have only the damaged portion of their knee replaced instead of needing to undergo a more invasive replacement of the entire joint. When patients are asking about partial knee replacement, one of the most common questions they have involves whether or not the procedure is a permanent fix or a temporary solution. Nobody wants to undergo partial knee replacement if they’ll need to undergo a complete knee replacement down the road, so how can you know if partial knee replacement is the right option for you?
While there’s no way to predict with absolute certainty that partial replacement will be the only surgery you’ll need, there are plenty of factors that can be examined to help determine the best route of care. In today’s blog, we explore some of the factors that will be considered to reduce your likelihood of needing another surgery after partial knee replacement.
When Is Partial Knee Replacement The Right Call?
The decision to move forward with a partial knee replacement is not something that your knee specialist will take lightly. Not only do they understand that you do not want to undergo another knee replacement procedure if at all possible, the partial knee replacement procedure is a more technically advanced operation that certainly takes some skill to perform correctly. If all signs are pointing to a standard total knee replacement, that’s what will be recommended. So what do surgeons look for that suggests a patient may find permanent relief through partial knee replacement?
- Knee Degeneration Is Contained – Your knee is composed of three compartments, and oftentimes they wear down in a similar fashion, which is why total knee replacement is the most common of the replacement procedures. However, if only one compartment is degenerative or causing pain, and the other two compartments are healthy, you may be a candidate for partial knee replacement. If the other compartments show some signs of degeneration and that progression is expected to continue, partial knee replacement may not be the right option because it’s likely that you’ll eventually require a total knee replacement.
- Strong Knee Functionality – Even if your other two knee compartments appear healthy, you may not be an ideal candidate for partial knee replacement if you have limited movement in your knee. Your doctor will want you to have significant range of motion in your knee in order for you to be considered for partial knee replacement, otherwise a complete knee replacement may be more beneficial.
- Minimal or No Deformity – Sometimes due to genetics or acute injury, the shape of the components that make up your knee can become altered over the years. We want to ensure that stress will still be appropriately channeled through your knee joint following either procedure, and we may not be able to reset alignment issues with a partial knee replacement like we can with a total knee replacement. Your knee surgeon will check to make sure there is no underlying alignment issue or deformity with the components that make up your knee.
- The Patient Is Willing To Work – One final factor that can make a big difference in whether or not partial knee replacement provides permanent relief from knee discomfort is the patient themselves. While your surgeon will provide the technical aspect during the procedure, you are going to need to put in the work during the weeks and months of rehab that follow to get the most out of your surgery. You’re going to be asked to participate in physical therapy sessions, to live an active lifestyle and to work towards a healthier weight. If you are willing to work hard to do all of these things, there’s a much higher likelihood that your partial knee replacement will be the only surgery you need on your knee. If you aren’t willing to work, you may be back in the office years later seeking another replacement, and as we mentioned in the intro, nobody wants that.
To see if a partial knee replacement procedure could be right for you, or to talk to a specialist about another joint issue you’re experiencing, reach out to Dr. Botero and his team today at (865) 558-4444.
