Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: A Patient's Guide to Partial Knee Replacement using Minimally-Invasive Surgery (MIS) Techniques.

Edited By: Seth S. Leopold, M.D.
Last updated Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Figure 19 - Model of a partial knee replacement.

Figure 20 - This clinical photograph shows a typical incision used to insert the minimally-invasive partial knee replacement.

Conclusion

What are the five most important facts about partial knee replacement surgery for arthritis of the knee?

Minimally-invasive partial knee replacement (see figure 19) is a surgical technique that allows an artificial knee to be inserted through a small (3 to 3.5 inches) incision (see figure 20), with minimal damage to the muscles and tendons around the knee.

The small size of the incision and the less-invasive nature of the surgical approach allow patients to recover from this operation much more quickly:

• Hospital stays are shorter--down to 1 or 2 days for most patients
• The recovery period is much faster. Most patients can walk unassisted between one and two weeks after the surgery.
• Patients lose less blood than after traditional total knee replacement, and rarely require blood transfusions.
• Post-operative pain is experience substantially less pain than traditional knee replacement, and the recovery period is much shorter. Even many patients who have both knees done at once with this newer technique are able to walk without the assistance of a walker or cane fairly quickly.

Surgery for arthritis of the knee at the University of Washington

Disclaimer

This resource has been provided by the University of Washington Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine as general information only. This information may not apply to a specific patient. Additional information may be found at http://www.orthop.washington.edu or by contacting the UW Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.

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