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Hi! šŸ‘‹ I’m Gene, Dr. Vijaykumar's virtual assistant at SV Ortho Care. How may I assist you today?

Partial Knee Replacement

🦵 Partial Knee Replacement (PKR / UKR)
šŸ”¹ What It Is
Instead of replacing the entire knee joint (like in total knee replacement), a partial knee replacement replaces only the damaged part (compartment) of the knee.
. The knee has 3 compartments:
1.Medial (inner side)
2.Lateral (outer side)
3.Patellofemoral (kneecap area)
šŸ‘‰ If arthritis or damage is limited to just one compartment, PKR is recommended.

šŸ”¹ Who Is Eligible? (Indications)
. Osteoarthritis limited to one compartment.
. Good knee range of motion.
. Strong, healthy ligaments (esp. ACL & MCL intact).
. Pain mainly on one side of the knee.
. Usually younger or moderately active patients, but elderly patients with localized arthritis can also benefit.
Not suitable for:
. Patients with severe arthritis in multiple compartments.
. Rheumatoid arthritis.
. Severe deformities or ligament damage.

šŸ”¹ Advantages (vs Total Knee Replacement)
āœ… Smaller incision (minimally invasive).
āœ… Less pain & blood loss.
āœ… Faster recovery (walking often the same day).
āœ… More natural knee movement (healthy ligaments are preserved).
āœ… Easier revision to total knee replacement in the future if needed.

šŸ”¹ Disadvantages / Risks
āš ļø Not suitable if arthritis spreads later → may need revision surgery.
āš ļø Implant may not last as long as a total knee replacement in some patients.
āš ļø Same risks as any knee surgery → infection, clots, stiffness.

šŸ”¹ Recovery Timeline
. Hospital stay: 1–2 days (sometimes same-day discharge).
. Walking with support: within 24 hours.
. Normal activities: 3–4 weeks.
. Full recovery: 6–8 weeks (faster than total knee replacement).

šŸ”¹ Implant Longevity
. Typically lasts 10–15 years (sometimes longer with modern implants).
. Can be revised to a Total Knee Replacement if arthritis progresses.