Knowing Your Options for Partial Knee Surgery
When arthritis or injury affects only one compartment of your knee, you shouldn’t have to replace the entire joint. Partial knee replacement, also called Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (UKA), allows our surgeons to replace only the damaged compartment while preserving your healthy bone and tissue. At CMC Orthopaedics, we offer both traditional and robotic-assisted approaches to ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment for your specific condition.
Don’t let knee pain control your life. Early evaluation can help determine the best treatment approach and potentially prevent more extensive surgery later. Contact CMC Orthopaedics at 843-347-8041 to schedule your consultation with an orthopedic expert.
Contents:
Traditional Partial Knee Replacement
The Proven Approach to Targeted Relief
Traditional partial knee replacement has been successfully performed for decades, offering patients a less invasive alternative to total knee replacement. This established procedure involves replacing only the damaged compartment of your knee while preserving healthy cartilage, bone, and ligaments in the other areas.
How Traditional Partial Knee Replacement Works:
- Minimally Invasive Technique: Smaller incision (3-4 inches) compared to total knee replacement
- Selective Replacement: Only the damaged compartment is addressed, preserving healthy tissue
- Proven Methods: Surgeons use time-tested techniques refined over decades
- Direct Surgical Guidance: Your surgeon relies on their experience and direct visualization during the procedure
Benefits of Traditional Partial Knee Replacement:
- Established Track Record: Decades of successful outcomes with excellent long-term data
- Natural Knee Feel: Preserving healthy ligaments and bone often results in more natural movement
- Faster Recovery: Less surgical trauma typically means quicker healing than total knee replacement
- Cost-Effective: Well-established procedure often fully covered by insurance
- Same-Day Surgery: Many patients go home the same day or after one night
- Bone Preservation: Maintains healthy bone stock for potential future procedures
Recovery with Traditional Approach:
- Immediate Mobility: Walking begins within hours of surgery
- Quick Return to Activities: Most patients resume normal daily activities within weeks
- Physical Therapy: Shorter rehabilitation period compared to total knee replacement
- Work Return: Many patients return to desk jobs within 1-2 weeks
- Long-term Outcomes: Excellent pain relief and function restoration
Traditional Partial Knee Replacement May Be Right for You If:
- You prefer proven approaches with extensive long-term outcome data
- Your knee anatomy is straightforward without complex deformities
- Cost considerations are important to your decision-making process
- You want a time-tested procedure with predictable results
Robotic-Assisted Partial Knee Replacement
A Smarter Approach to Targeted Knee Pain Relief
For patients seeking the latest in surgical precision, VELYS™ robotic assistance transforms traditional partial knee replacement into an even more precise and personalized procedure.
How VELYS Technology Works
The VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution uses real-time data during surgery to guide every decision our surgeons make. This cutting-edge technology:
- Gathers real-time insights about your specific knee anatomy during the procedure
- Personalizes implant placement to fit your unique bone structure
- Enhances surgical precision for more accurate cuts and positioning
- Requires no pre-operative CT scan, reducing radiation exposure and saving time
Benefits of Robotic-Assisted Partial Knee Replacement
Faster Recovery: Smaller incisions and reduced soft tissue trauma often lead to quicker healing. Many patients go home the same day.
Less Post-Operative Pain: Precise surgical techniques typically result in less discomfort after surgery.
More Natural Feel: By preserving your healthy bone, ligaments, and cartilage, partial knee replacement often feels more natural than total knee replacement.
Quicker Return to Activities: Many patients return to activities they love sooner than with traditional total knee replacement.
Improved Precision: Robotic assistance helps achieve optimal implant positioning, potentially leading to better long-term outcomes.
Are You a Candidate?
Partial knee replacement may be right for you if:
- Your arthritis or damage is limited to one compartment of your knee
- You have good bone quality and stable ligaments
- You maintain reasonable range of motion
- Conservative treatments haven’t provided adequate relief
What to Expect
Surgery: The minimally invasive procedure typically takes 1-2 hours with smaller incisions than traditional knee replacement.
Recovery: You’ll begin walking and physical therapy within hours of surgery. Most patients experience less pain and swelling compared to total knee replacement.
Return to Life: Many patients return to work within 6-8 weeks and can enjoy activities like walking, swimming, golf, and recreational sports once fully healed.
Why Choose Partial Over Total Knee Replacement?
Think of your knee like a three-compartment house. If only one “room” is damaged, why renovate the entire house? Partial knee replacement:
- Preserves your natural knee structure
- Typically requires shorter recovery time
- Often feels more like your original knee
- May allow for more natural movement and flexibility
- Generally involves less surgical trauma
Choosing the Right Approach for Your Partial Knee Replacement
Comparing Your Treatment Options
Both traditional and robotic-assisted partial knee replacement offer excellent outcomes for patients with single-compartment knee arthritis. The choice between approaches depends on your individual anatomy, preferences, and specific needs:
Traditional Partial Knee Replacement is ideal for patients who:
- Want a proven approach with decades of successful long-term outcomes
- Have straightforward single-compartment arthritis
- Prefer established surgical techniques with extensive research data
- Are focused on cost-effective treatment with reliable insurance coverage
VELYS Robotic-Assisted Partial Knee Replacement may be preferred by patients who:
- Seek the latest in surgical technology and enhanced precision
- Have complex anatomy that benefits from personalized surgical planning
- Want potentially optimized implant positioning and alignment
- Are interested in CT-scan-free robotic guidance technology
Both Options Offer:
- Preservation of healthy knee tissue and ligaments
- Faster recovery compared to total knee replacement
- More natural knee feel and function
- High patient satisfaction rates
- Same-day or overnight hospital stays
- Excellent long-term pain relief
Making Your Decision
The success of your partial knee replacement depends primarily on proper patient selection and surgical expertise rather than the specific technology used. During your consultation, your surgeon will evaluate whether you’re a good candidate for partial knee replacement and help determine which surgical approach best suits your individual situation.
Questions to Discuss with Your Surgeon:
- Am I a good candidate for partial versus total knee replacement?
- Which surgical approach is most appropriate for my knee anatomy?
- What are the expected outcomes with each option for my specific condition?
- How do recovery timelines compare for my situation?
- What does my insurance cover for each approach?
- What is your experience with both traditional and robotic partial knee techniques?
Key Factors in Your Decision:
- Candidacy: Not all patients are suitable for partial knee replacement
- Anatomy: Your specific knee structure may favor one approach over another
- Goals: Your activity level and expectations influence the best choice
- Experience: Your surgeon’s expertise with different techniques
Whether you choose traditional or robotic-assisted partial knee replacement, the goal remains the same: relieving your pain while preserving as much of your natural knee as possible, helping you return to the activities you love with renewed confidence and comfort.
Your journey back to an active, pain-free life begins with understanding your options. Contact CMC Orthopaedics at 843-347-8041 today to learn about how we can help you kick your knee pain to the curb and regain your mobility.
