Partial Knee Replacement Surgery
Your knee joint has three major compartments. Any of these compartments can experience wear and tear that leads to knee pain:
- Inside (medial) compartment
- Outside (lateral) compartment
- Front (patellofemoral) compartment
Sometimes, arthritis affects only one knee compartment. In these cases, your doctor may recommend a partial knee replacement, in which they will replace only the affected compartment.
Benefits & Risks of Partial Knee Replacement
A partial knee replacement can provide the following benefits:
- Extend the time before you need to replace the entire knee
- Faster recovery time than a full knee replacement
- Maintain a natural-feeling knee
- Relieve pain
However, there are some disadvantages of a partial knee replacement. You may experience only partial pain relief. Or, your other knee compartments may continue to wear out. If this is the case, you’ll eventually need a total replacement.
Total Knee Replacement Surgery
Your orthopedic surgeon will likely recommend a total knee replacement if wear and tear affects most of your knee. Another name for total knee replacement is total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
In a total knee replacement, your surgeon will perform the following steps:
- Remove small slices from the ends of your knee bones
- Cap your bones with metal part
- Insert a plastic liner or spacer between the metal components
Robotic Knee Replacement Surgery
We will remove the damaged parts of your knee and replace them with an artificial joint during a robotic knee replacement. Your surgeon uses a computer to guide a robotic arm to assist in the alignment while operating unlike a traditional knee replacement.
Robotic surgery can improve precision and accuracy. Your surgeon is in control of the robotic arm the entire time. Robot-assisted knee replacement is a minimally invasive surgery, which can lead to better alignment and possible improved recovery with less pain. This is an area of research for some of our orthopedic surgeons.
Total Knee Replacement Scar
Your surgeon will need to make an incision (cut) to access your knee joint. As a result, a total knee replacement will leave a scar several inches long vertically across your kneecap.
Your surgeon will give you instructions to care for your surgical incision. Following these directions will help decrease your risk of complications and knee replacement infection.
How to Prepare for Knee Replacement Surgery
Your surgeon will advise you on how to prepare for the procedure. You may need to stop taking certain medications for a period of time or stop eating by midnight on the day of surgery.
You’ll need to arrange for a ride home after surgery. Most people need 24-hour help for several days after a knee replacement, so you’ll need to make sure someone can be at home with you. We can connect you with other options if you don’t have adequate help at home.
How Long Does Knee Replacement Surgery Take?
Both a partial knee replacement and total knee replacement may take between 1–2 hours. The surgery time depends on the extent of your knee damage and your overall health.
What Helps Nerve Pain After Knee Replacement?
Nerve pain is a common side effect of knee replacement surgery. We inject the knee with a special combination of medications at the end of surgery to help relieve pain for 24–36 hours. Our anesthesiologists also offer peripheral nerve blocks to help decrease pain in the first 24 hours after a knee replacement. Find out more about peripheral nerve blocks for knee replacement surgery.
What Happens After Knee Replacement Surgery?
You may go home the same day or stay in the hospital overnight after a knee replacement. A physical therapist will start working with you the same day to help you sit, stand, and walk with your new joint.
Your physical therapist will give you exercises to perform at home while you recover. We offer additional supervision and assistance via phone, email, or video conferencing if needed. These virtual rehabilitation services allow you to receive the same great care from the comfort of your home.
You can typically return home the day of a partial knee replacement. You will return home the same day or stay in the hospital for one day after a total knee replacement.
Knee Replacement Complications & Surgery Risks
Like all surgeries, a knee replacement has some potential complications:
- Blood clots in your leg or lung
- Joint infection
- Nerve or blood vessel damage
Our surgeons take extra precautions to avoid these complications, such as giving you antibiotics in surgery and blood thinners to take at home.
Knee Replacement Infection
We will give you antibiotics before and after surgery to lower your risk of infection. But there is a small chance that a knee replacement can become infected, even several months or years after the surgery.
Find a Knee Replacement Provider
Schedule an Appointment
Call 801-587-7109 to request an appointment with our orthopedic specialists. Referring providers may fill out our patient referral form or call 1-866-850-8863.
