Over 500,000 Americans are diagnosed annually with arthritis of the knee that requires surgical intervention, making knee replacement surgeries one of the most common procedures performed. Though total knee replacement is sometimes necessary depending on the patient and condition, at Ashvin K Dewan, MD, we are proud to offer minimally invasive partial knee replacements for patients seeking relief.
Your Knee
Your knee is composed of three bones: your femur, tibia, and patella. It is held together by muscles, ligaments, and soft tissues such as cartilage that act as shock-absorbing cushions within the joint. The knee can also be divided into three compartments: the front, medial, and outside.
For patients with knee osteoarthritis, knee replacement surgery may be recommended depending on which parts of your knee are affected, your symptoms, and your condition. Osteoarthritis is the wearing down of the cartilage within a joint, as it thins pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion may occur even while resting.
During your consultation, several tests including CT scans, ultrasounds, and X-rays will be performed to determine which parts of your knee are damaged and affected. If only one area of the knee is affected, then a minimally invasive knee replacement may be the right procedure for you.
Minimally Invasive Partial Knee Replacement
Knee replacements are performed to alleviate chronic pain, reduce symptoms, and restore function and motion of the knee. Partial replacements are performed when only one part of the knee is damaged. Compared to traditional knee replacement surgeries, our minimally invasive technique allows for a smaller incision and requires significantly less cutting of soft tissue, muscle, and bones. This less invasive method reduces the amount of trauma to the knee while still producing equal to or better results than total knee replacement surgery. With this technique, we only resurface or replace the damaged compartment of the knee sparing the healthy bones and surrounding tissue within the rest of your knee.
Advantages
Our minimally invasive partial knee replacement surgery has many advantages over total knee replacement, including:
- Smaller incision
- Less trauma
- Quicker recovery period
- Less postoperative pain
If arthritis spreads to other compartments, additional surgery is possible as the resurfacing process of partial replacement preserves as much of your knee’s natural structure as possible.
Procedure
During the procedure, the damaged portion of the knee is removed and replaced with implants. The femur and tibia bone in the affected area are carefully reshaped and resurfaced to maintain most of your natural knee joint. If metal implants are used, they are secured, and a plastic insert is often placed between components to allow for a free range of motion.
Recovery
During the early weeks of your recovery, you may need assistance walking. A walker or cane can help prevent you from placing too much pressure on the joint. Remember to rest when tired, but to also move your foot and ankle frequently to maintain blood flow. After some time, we will also teach you certain exercises to help strengthen your knee and schedule physical therapy sessions so that you can get back on your feet. Physical therapy and rehabilitation will take several months for you to regain full strength and range of motion to the knee joint.
If you are seeking solutions to osteoarthritis in your knee but are hesitant about surgery, we understand how you feel. Our job is to make you feel comfortable and confident in our care. We are here for you. Come in for a consultation and examination so that we can discuss your condition and possible treatment options with your unique needs in mind. For more information on minimally invasive partial knee replacement or to schedule your consultation, contact Ashvin K. Dewan, MD today at (281) 690-4678.