Do you also have knee pain? Are you tired of the pain that comes with standing up, walking, or climbing stairs? Your doctor may have talked about a total knee replacement surgery. But have you heard of a surgery that replaces only the damaged part of the knee, that is, about half of the knee? Today we will talk very simply and friendly about this 'Partial Knee Replacement' surgery that many people do not know about.
What does this mean, half of the knee is replaced?
Simply put, this is a surgery that removes only the damaged, worn-out part of the knee joint and replaces it with an artificial joint. In medicine, we call this ``Arthroplasty`` or joint replacement. This artificial joint is usually made of metal and a special type of plastic.
Think of our knee as a three-room house. It has three main parts:
- Medial Compartment: This is the inner side of the knee.
- Lateral Compartment: This is the outer side of the knee.
- Patellofemoral Compartment: This is located under your kneecap.
In a partial knee replacement, surgeons replace only the damaged inner or outer part of these three parts. The other healthy parts remain the same.
Who needs this surgery?
This surgery is often required due to joint pain, or ``Arthritis.'' This surgery is often recommended for people with the most common condition, ``Osteoarthritis,'' which is caused by the wear and tear of joints over time.
If you have severe symptoms below, and they do not improve with non-surgical treatments such as medication and exercise, your doctor may talk to you about this surgery.
- Unbearable joint pain.
- Joint stiffness in the morning.
- Inability to bend or straighten the knee properly (Limited Mobility).
- Knee swelling.
The most important thing is that this surgery is best suited for those who have only one part of the knee worn out, without all three parts being damaged.
How do you prepare before surgery?
Your doctor and surgeon will explain everything you need to do before the surgery. Usually, you will have to do these things.
| What to do | Why is that? |
|---|---|
| A complete physical examination | Make sure you are healthy enough to endure the surgery. |
| Blood tests | Make sure that things like blood pressure and kidney function are normal. |
| ECG test | Know your heart health. |
| A teeth cleaning and checkup | Although this may seem a bit surprising, it is very important to prevent germs in the mouth from entering the bloodstream and causing infections after surgery. |
| X-ray, MRI or CT scan | Look closely at the worn parts of the knee. Usually an X-ray is enough, but sometimes an MRI or CT scan may be needed. |
Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications, vitamins, or herbal remedies you are taking. Some medications (especially blood thinners ) may require you to stop taking them a few days before surgery. You may also need to refrain from eating or drinking for about 12 hours before surgery.
What happens during surgery?
An anesthesiologist will give you anesthesia so that you don't feel any pain. This can be done in two ways. Either you will be completely asleep (General Anesthesia), or only the area below the waist will be numbed (Regional Anesthesia). The medical team will decide which method is best for you.
During the operation, the surgeon:
1. The worn-out cartilage and bone fragments in the knee are carefully removed.
2. Instead, pre-measured and fabricated artificial metal parts are implanted.
3. A special plastic part (spacer) that acts like our healthy cartilage is inserted between the two metal parts.
This entire surgery usually takes about an hour.
What happens after the surgery and how is the recovery time?
After the surgery, you will be taken to a recovery room. The medical team will take good care of you until you wake up from the anesthesia. In most cases, you can go home the same evening as the surgery. That is a big advantage of this surgery. However, sometimes you may have to stay in the hospital for a day.
It may take several months to fully recover. But you should be able to resume most of your normal activities after about six weeks . How quickly you recover depends on factors such as your age and the health of your body before surgery.
Things to do at home to recover quickly
The most important thing is to follow your doctor's instructions. They will usually tell you to do these things:
- Ice your knee: Applying ice to your knee for about 20 minutes several times a day can greatly reduce pain and swelling.
- Elevate your knee: Keep your knee elevated above the level of your heart whenever possible. Elevate your leg with a few pillows when in bed, or a chair when in a chair.
- Keep the wound clean: Follow your doctor's instructions exactly about how to change the bandage and when you can shower.
- Home exercises: Your doctor will teach you some simple exercises to strengthen the muscles around your knee and relieve knee stiffness. Do them exactly.
- Physical Therapy: You will need to work with a physical therapist for a few weeks after surgery. This will help you to bend your knee properly, start walking with weight bearing, and get back to walking.
Pain management
It is normal to feel some pain after surgery, especially in the first few weeks. Your doctor will prescribe painkillers, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and paracetamol, to help control the pain. Never take more than the doctor tells you to. If you are unable to tolerate the pain or have any questions about the medication, talk to your doctor right away.
What are the benefits and risks of this surgery?
Like every surgery, this one has benefits and minor risks.
| Benefits | Potential Complications |
|---|---|
| Faster recovery than a complete knee replacement. | Blood clots. |
| The hospital stay is very short (you can often go home the same day). | Infection inside the wound or knee. |
| The knee feels more natural after surgery. | Damage to nerves or blood vessels. |
| Long-term pain and stiffness are eliminated and quality of life is improved. | The artificial joint becomes loose or wears out quickly. |
| The artificial joint usually lasts well for 10 years or more . | Scar tissue formation inside the knee. |
Some people may need to have a total knee replacement if the other parts of the knee wear out years after this surgery. Also, if you have other medical conditions, such as `(Diabetes)`, `(Hemophilia)` or `(Lupus),` talk to your doctor about that as well, as it can affect your recovery.
When you need to talk to the doctor!
If you experience any of the symptoms below after surgery, immediately go to your surgeon or the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU).
- If you have chest pain .
- If you feel difficulty breathing .
- If the fever rises above 101 degrees F (39 C).
- If the wound is bleeding profusely.
- If the wound is swollen, red, feels warm, or has a foul odor (these are signs of infection).
- If you have new pain in your hip, ankle, or foot (this could be a sign of a blood clot).
- If you have severe pain that doesn't go away even after taking medication.
Half or full knee replacement - which is better?
This is a problem that many people have. Imagine that only one of the four tires on your car is worn out. Do we replace all four along with the other three good tires, or do we replace just the worn tire? That's how it is with this one.
If all three parts of the knee are worn out, then a total knee replacement is the way to go. However, if only one part is worn out, you will benefit greatly from replacing only the worn part, leaving the healthy parts intact.
Therefore, it is not possible to say that one method is "better" than another. What is best for you depends on the condition of your knee. Your doctor is the best person to make that decision.
Living with knee pain can be very frustrating. It can even interfere with your daily activities. If you are suffering from this problem, talk to your doctor about Partial Knee Replacement surgery. It may bring great relief to your life.
Take-Home Message
- Partial Knee Replacement is a surgery that removes only the worn part of the knee and replaces it with an artificial part.
- This is best for those who have only worn out one part of their knee, without damaging all three parts.
- There is less recovery time, less hospital stay, and the knee feels more natural than a total knee replacement.
- It is essential to follow the exercises and instructions given by the doctor exactly to recover quickly after surgery.
- If you experience warning signs such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or high fever, seek medical advice immediately.
- Your doctor will be the best person to decide whether a partial or total knee replacement is right for you, so don't be afraid to ask him or her.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න