If you have severe and persistent knee pain in one spot in your knee, then you may have localized arthritis. If your osteoarthritis damage – the wearing-down of the protective cartilage in your knee – is only in one section of your knee and is not across the entire knee, then your orthopedic surgeon may recommend that you have partial knee replacement surgery.
Let’s talk about why your orthopedic surgeon thinks that you should consider having a partial knee replacement, and where you can go in Raleigh to see a highly experienced orthopedic surgeon who has years of success in performing both partial and total knee replacement surgeries.
When Is a Partial Knee Replacement Recommended?
In partial knee replacement surgery, only the damaged area of your knee is replaced by prosthetic materials. Most patients who have severe knee arthritis need to have a total knee replacement, which involves removing the surface of the bottom end of your upper leg bone, the upper end of your large lower leg bone, and the back surface of your patella (kneecap), and replacing these joint surfaces with a new prosthetic joint.
A partial knee replacement usually takes much less time during recovery, simply because there is less that must heal. You are able to keep more of your natural tissues and structures, which is always preferred if possible as well, and patients often say that a partial knee replacement feels more normal or natural to them.
Does Your Knee Have Sufficient Range of Motion?
Your orthopedic surgeon will probably consider you eligible for partial knee replacement surgery if your knee is fairly mobile and stable. In this case, your arthritis is probably not so advanced that it is causing you debilitating pain every time you try to use your leg and knee.
Health Factors in Considering a Partial Knee Replacement
Your orthopedic surgeon will consider your overall health when determining which type of treatment to recommend to provide lasting relief of your knee pain. You are likely a good candidate for having partial knee replacement surgery if:
- You have persistent and targeted knee pain but conservative (nonsurgical) treatments, such as cortisone injections into the knee and physical therapy, did not work.
- You have strong bones.
- You are not overweight.
Skilled Raleigh Orthopedic Surgeons
If you would like to find out your options for relief from your knee pain, including partial knee replacement surgery, visit our skilled and experienced orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brett Gilbert. Dr. Gilbert will perform a physical evaluation of your overall health and orthopedic (musculoskeletal) health, review your health history, and possibly order scans such as an xray or MRI to determine the extent of the arthritis damage in your knee.
He will then explain your options for treatments that can help you. Dr. Gilbert specializes in partial and total knee replacements and hip replacements, so he is an expert in successfully performing these treatments for his patients. His goal is to administer the least-invasive treatment that would work to help you find lasting relief from your knee pain.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gilbert, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (919) 788-8797 or you can request an appointment with Dr. Gilbert using our appointment request form, or you can self-schedule your appointment here.
We look forward to helping you fully regain your mobility!
