Knee Arthroplasty Surgery

Knee Arthroplasty
Knee joint replacement or knee arthroplasty is the replacement of worn or damaged parts of the knee with implants or prosthesis. Wear on knee parts can occur as a result of arthritis, especially osteoarthritis and can cause stiffness and severe pain. Knee arthroplasty is a major surgical operation and extensive preparation is required before surgery.

What Does a Knee Joint Consist Of?
The knee joint consists of three main sections; the inner (medial), outer (lateral) and kneecap (patellofemoral). The end of the femur (thigh bone) rotates on the end of the tibia or shin bone. The knee cap (patella) covers the join and slides on the groove on the end of the femur. The joint surfaces are covered with cartilage to facilitate smooth movement and ligaments hold all of the components together. The inner section of the knee joint consists of both the upper (femoral section) and the lower section (tibia section) on the inside of the knee joint. That is the side of the joint on the inside of the leg closest to the other leg. The lateral or outer section is facing away from the right side of the knee for the right leg and the left side of the knee for the left leg.

Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (UKA)
Partial knee arthroplasty or unicompartmental knee surgery (UKA) is the surgical replacement of only one part of the knee joint, either the inner or the outer sections. Most patients with severe enough knee joint damage to require knee replacement surgery usually have damage to at least two or more sections of the knee joint and a partial knee replacement procedure would not be suitable. But in a minority of cases a patient will have damage or wear to just one side of the knee joint and are candidates for a partial knee arthroplasty. The advantages is of a partial knee replacement procedure are; reduced recovery times, smaller incision needed for surgery, less hospitalization time and the reduction in the general risks associated with knee surgery.

Knee Arthroplasty Risks
Less than 1% of patients suffer from deep vein thrombosis after knee arthroplasty which requires the use of Warfarin, an anti clotting drug to thin the blood. Fractures to the prosthesis can occur during or after surgery and revision surgery would be required to repair the fracture. In some cases, the range of movement may not be optimal and will require manipulation under anesthetic to improve. The kneecap can become unstable and dislocated which can be very painful but reversible with further surgery and there is a possibility, as with all surgery, of an infection occurring.