Types of Knee surgery For Arthritis Treatment
There are many kinds of knee surgery administered to treat knee arthritis. The kind of surgery to be recommended depends on factors such as the patientâs anatomy, age, general health, personal preferences and lifestyle. The complexity of the surgery depends on the portion of the knee to be treated and the type of repair to be performed. However, you only need to be operated on if your knee causes stiffness, pain, loss of function and instability that affects your day to day activities. It is wise to seek advise from an orthopaedic surgeon on surgical options and the pros and cons of delaying or having surgery. Let us now look at the different kinds of knee surgery for arthritis.
TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY (TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY)
This type of surgery is carried out on patients whoâve exhausted non-surgical treatment options. Patients with moderate to severe conditions of arthritis might consider replacing their entire knee joint. This involves the removal of arthritically affected ends of the shin bone and thigh bone and capping both of them with prostheses. This process is similar to capping teeth.
The prosthetic pieces to be inserted on the knee are made of either plastic known as polyethylene or pieces of metal. The new surfaces move smoothly against each other thus creating a working knee joint. The patient will have to wait 4 to 6 weeks for partial recovery while full recovery takes several months to an entire year.
Full knee replacement surgery provides improved joint function and pain relief for most patients. However, knee replacement is not as durable and strong as a healthy knee, thatâs why patients are prohibited from engaging in high-impact activities such as running or jogging. Such activities can only speed up the wear and tear of their new knee.
PARTIAL KNEE REPLACEMENT (UNICOMPARTMENTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY)
Unicompartmental knee replacement otherwise known as partial knee replacement entails replacing one of the kneeâs 3 compartments. The three compartments include:
* The medial compartment which refers to the inner part of the knee where the knees touch when legs are kept together.
* The patellofemoral compartment which refers to the front part of the knee where the knee cap (patella) meets the thighbone (femur).
In partial knee replacement surgery, only the arthritically damaged compartment of the knee joint is treated while the healthy parts are preserved. This kind of surgery is appropriate for very few people, and some patients may be ineligible if they are knock-kneed or bow-legged. Other patients who may not be eligible for this type of surgery are those with ligament damage, severe knee stiffness or those suffering from inflammatory arthritis.
Partial knee replacement is not as invasive as total knee replacement, therefore it is usually less painful and requires less time for the patient to recover. However, partial knee replacement is less reliable in alleviating pain.
KNEE OSTEOTOMY (FEMORAL OSTEOTOMY)
This type of surgery is suitable for only a small number of younger and physically active people under the age of 60. It is appropriate for such patients due to their poor knee alignment and asymmetrical knee arthritis.
* Osteotomy involves cutting of the thighbone (femur) or shin bone (tibia) and:
* Removing a small wedge of bone
* Adding a small wedge of bone graft or man-made bone material
* Knee osteotomy re-aligns the knee, shifting more pressure to the good side of the joint thus reducing wear and tear on the bad side.
Article: Dr Ben Handcock, shows you how to find the best Wollongong knee specialist. Reviews of the best surgeons in Wollongong and down the NSW South Coast are available for you to compare and research before making a decision on knee surgery.
