Partial Knee Replacement and Obesity

Joints are the moving parts of the human body. Every movement that you make can cause some strain on those joints. Of all of the joints in the human body, the knees work the hardest. In even the most sedentary person's life, the knees are tasked with supporting the whole weight of the body. Over time, excessive strain can cause the knees to wear out leading to the need for either a full or partial knee replacement and obesity is one of the leading causes of that joint failure. Other common causes include sports injuries and repetitive motion strain from some occupations.

The normal, day to day strain that is placed upon the joints of your hips and especially your knees is amplified by any excess weight that you are carrying. Over time, the excessive impact that even just walking can cause may make cartilage weaken and wear down and movement can become excruciatingly painful. If the pain is persistent enough, your doctor may determine that it is necessary to perform either a full or partial knee replacement, and obesity is often the cause. Part of the post-operative treatment for a knee replacement caused by obesity is to lose a substantial amount of weight. Continuing to carry excess weight just leads to continued strain on the joint and can cause the replacement joint to wear out or fail.

It is estimated that 10 to 30 percent of patients requiring knee replacement surgery may be able to get by with a partial knee replacement. A partial replacement may be performed when only one or two of the three compartments of the knee have become damaged. The drawback of having only a partial knee replacement as compared to a complete replacement is that there is a higher incidence of failure in partial knee replacements, and obesity can increase the odds of failure markedly.

There are benefits to only having a partial knee replacement, rather than a complete replacement. In general there is a smaller incision and there is a shorter recovery period. Risk of infection may be decreased and many patients experience a full return to complete mobility, comparable to their pre-operative experience. In general, there is also a much shorter hospital stay required than there is for a total knee replacement.

While there have been great advances in medical technology, a successful outcome is determined by the patient's attitude and willingness to do the necessary therapy. Based on their experience, many doctors have somewhat low expectations for recovery and may not be very encouraging. It is up to the patient to find and follow an exercise program that has already shown proven results. Equally important is finding a trainer or mentor who has a positive attitude toward recovery from knee surgery and who can teach anyone the same mindset. Believing it can be done and working with someone who has already achieved the desired results is the key to returning to normal activities and remaining free from pain.