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Partial Knee Replacements.. are they worth it?

Posted September 10, 2007 at 03:30 PM by Lisa Cieplechowicz

Section: His Fitness, Injuries & Rehab

As every athlete knows, properly functioning knees are a critical aspect of virtually any form of exercise. Walking, running, lifting, kicking - seems obvious to say, but without your knees your body would be at a severe loss. So what do you do when you sustain an injury to your knee? Though accidents and injuries are an unavoidable part of the world of sports, certain types are undeniably worse for your body to endure. Take, for instance, damage caused to knee cartilage. Cartilage, once damaged, can never heal. Rather, it continues to break down until it is completely gone, leaving the knee in constant pain and the person unable to participate in many normal activities.

Thankfully, there are ways to deal with injured knees. Though total knee replacement surgery has typically been the go-to procedure, in recent times, there has been an upward trend in the amount of partial knee surgeries- known as unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in the medical community- individuals are undergoing each year. Doctors are now realizing that while replacing an entire knee may benefit individuals suffering from severe cases of arthritis, partial knee replacement is the optimal route to take when only part of the knee is causing trouble.

However, though the advocates of partial knee replacement are great in number, it’s best to know what to expect before committing to such a procedure. Let’s start off on a good note. It’s true that partial knee replacement has some undeniable benefits when compared to total knee replacement. For starters, due to the simple fact that doctors are only replacing a certain part of the knee, the surgery involved is only minimally invasive. The less invasive the surgery, the less time needed for recovery. The Stone Clinic, a facility dedicated to the evaluation and treatment of orthopedic and sports related injuries, has documented that the typical hospital stay for partial knee surgery is only one to two nights - a small sacrifice to make for the betterment of your body.

Furthermore, as Dr. Bryan Larson from the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin has reported, by removing only the afflicted joint, doctors leave the original cartilage in tact, allowing for a more natural range of motion after the healing process is complete. If that’s not enough, partial knee replacement also has an economical edge on the full-blown procedure, as it costs about half as much.

Sounds like a fail-proof procedure option, right? Unfortunately, though partial knee replacement is often a solid choice, it’s important to know the risks at hand as well. To begin, a surgery is a surgery. No matter how simple the procedure may be, there’s always the chance for complications. Blood clots, reactions to anesthesia, and infection are all possibilities when going under the knife. Furthermore, keep in mind that partial knee replacement isn’t for everyone.

According to a recent report on Reuters, as partial replacements tend to be fragile and susceptible to damage, medical experts warn that individuals over 60, vigorous exercisers, and those suffering from obesity should avoid the procedure as they are at a significantly increased risk for treatment failure. In addition, should you suffer from any disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, that could lead to progressive joint damage, it would be unwise to sign up for the surgery as you are greatly compromising your chances for success. And when partial knee replacement fails, the only other option is to undergo more extensive surgery to replace the entire knee.

When all is said and done, the best route to take when dealing with a knee injury is to consult your physician. Gather all the facts and make sure you have a complete understanding of what to expect before you commit to any procedure.

Research resources and sources for more information: [About.com]; [BestMedicineInfo.com]; [The Stone Clinic]; [MedLine Plus]; [picture]

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Tags: cartilage, dr. bryan larson, health, injuries, knee, knee pain, knee replacement, lifting, men's health, miniscus, orthopedics, partial knee replacement, rehabilitation, running, sports injuries, surgery, total knee replacement

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