What is Partial Knee Replacement? - Requirements You Need to Fulfill to Opt For It

The partial knee replacement is a surgery that is undertaken to treat the pain in the knee caused by arthritis. As you must be aware, there are two types of surgery and they are the total knee replacement and the partial knee replacement surgery. In the latter surgical procedure, smaller incisions are made and it has also been reported that the patients recover faster in this type of surgery as compared to the total surgery.

The partial type is also referred to as 'minimally invasive knee surgery' and 'unicompartmental knee arthroplasty'. This procedure is undertaken to get rid of the diseased or damaged parts of the cartilage and these areas are replaced with artificial components. Those people who have serious arthritis of knee and have tried other treatments without any avail can consider the partial knee replacement treatment.

Usually people who are over and above the age of fifty-five years with painful knees are recommended this type of knee surgery. If you want to consider undergoing partial knee replacement then you will have to fulfill the following conditions:

- You should not be obese.
- You should be over 55 years of age.
- Your ligaments should be intact.
- You are living a moderately sedentary life.

If you do not fulfill these requirements then you can not opt for it. It has been found that patients who have undergone this surgical procedure are now living a better life and they are extremely satisfied with the result. Of course, if your knee can be treated with the conservative treatment then this means that the condition of your knee is not that bad. This, of course, will be decided by your doctor after he examines your knee.

Usually, you will not be required to undergo another surgery after getting the partial knee replacement done but there are few cases where the implants may become loose and this is when the patient will be asked to get another surgery done. Apart from this, few patients may develop problem with their other knee and this is another case where the doctor may recommend this type of surgery to be performed.

Of all the patients who have undergone this type of surgical procedure, 90% of them have obtained positive results and they are now happily living their life. If your knee has been troubling you for a long time now and the condition has become worse than it was before, then it is high time that you see a doctor (if you have not seen one before).