When knee pain starts to restrict your activities of daily living, you might be inquiring about treatment. Partial knee replacement is one option, a less invasive procedure than total knee replacement surgery for most patients. This method has gained popularity in Singapore and globally as techniques have evolved. What are the conditions that prompt physicians to suggest this focused method of knee repair?
Osteoarthritis limited to a single compartment of the knee is the most common reason for partial knee replacement. Unlike total knee arthritis, which devastates all three compartments of the knee joint, partial knee replacement Singapore specialists typically treat patients whose arthritis involves a single compartment – most commonly the inner (medial) compartment.
Age and level of activity also have a significant impact on being a candidate for partial knee replacement. Although the majority of patients are older than 50, younger, more active patients with isolated damage to a single compartment can be good candidates for this less invasive procedure. Most patients, according to many orthopedic surgeons in partial knee replacement Singapore centers, return to activity faster than with total knee replacement.
Traumatic injuries may sometimes result in partial knee replacement, especially when the damage is localized to one region of the knee. After knee fractures or extreme ligament ruptures, some patients develop post-traumatic arthritis that involves only one part of the joint. In such situations, it usually makes sense to save the healthy parts and replace only the damaged portion.
Osteonecrosis, or the death of bone tissue because of a lack of blood supply, also requires partial knee replacement. This disease often only affects one area of the knee, so partial replacement is the right solution. Singapore’s tropical climate does not lead to osteonecrosis, but the disease is still treated by experts all over the island.
Unsuccessful prior treatment commonly makes patients contemplate surgical solutions. Numerous partial knee replacement candidates have already attempted conservative measures such as physical therapy, medication, cortisone shots, and lifestyle changes without satisfactory relief. Once these non-surgical measures fail to manage pain in a portion of the knee, partial replacement is a possibility.
Body weight affects joint health significantly, and obesity can accelerate knee joint deterioration. However, unlike total knee replacement, which may have weight restrictions, partial knee replacement Singapore surgeons can sometimes offer this procedure to heavier patients when their damage is truly limited to one compartment.
The partial knee replacement surgery itself is less invasive compared to total replacement surgery since it involves less incision and a greater degree of your normal knee anatomy that remains intact. This tends to cause less pain after surgery, quicker recovery time, and smoother knee motion as a result of it. Partial knee replacement, Singapore hospitals now undertake this procedure through newer robotic-assisted technology with even greater accuracy.
It should be pointed out that even though partial knee replacement has a lot of advantages, not everyone suffering from pain in the knees qualifies. One must undergo careful evaluation by an orthopedic specialist to observe if your condition of the knee can be managed by this specialized procedure rather than by total knee replacement or by non-surgical means.