Unicondylar Knee Replacement
What is a unicondylar knee replacement?
A unicondylar knee replacement replaces only half of the knee joint in cases where only one side of the joint is damaged. It is also known as unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.
Good candidates for this procedure:
- Have arthritis on one side of the knee only. (Your physician can determine this with an x-ray.)
- Are too young for a total knee replacement
- Weigh less than 220 pounds
- Can extend their knee to within ten degrees of full extension and bend the knee more than 90 degrees
- Do not wish to return to high impact sports activity or strenuous labor
The benefits of a unicondylar knee replacement over a total knee replacement are:
- Smaller incision, less pain and recovery time
- Return to activity faster
- Reduces risks of infection, blood loss or other medical complications
- More functionality and range of motion than patients treated with total knee replacements
- Involves less bone and tissue dissection
- Easier to revise, if needed
Can patients return to full activity level?
Return to full activity is more limited than a total knee replacement. Patients can walk, swim, bicycle and play doubles tennis, if done with appropriate, cushioned footwear. Patients cannot run or do sports that involve knee pivoting, such as singles tennis or soccer.
Some considerations are to discuss with your orthopedist are:
- Revision rates are higher for unicondylar knee replacements than for total knee replacements
- A unicondylar knee replacement revision will not give the same quality of functional use as in patients who undergo a total knee replacement as their first procedure
- Revision surgery can be technically more complex than a primary total knee replacement
For more information or to make an appointment please call
1-877-233-WELL (9355).