Partial Knee Replacement Specialists

What is a partial knee replacement?

Your knee joint is formed by four bones that divide your knee into three areas or compartments:

• Patellofemoral compartment (where the kneecap and femur meet)
• Medial compartment (the inside part of the knee)
• Lateral compartment (the outside part of the knee)

When your joint damage is limited to one of those compartments, Dr. Bright can perform a partial knee replacement. This type of surgery, also called a unicompartmental knee replacement, allows you to preserve more of your natural ligaments, bone, and cartilage. 

When can I have a partial knee replacement?

Most knee replacements are performed when arthritis damages the tissues in the joint. You can consider a partial knee replacement if you have osteoarthritis and it has caused degeneration in just one compartment.

Partial replacements usually aren’t possible if you have rheumatoid arthritis. This type of arthritis causes inflammation and tissue damage throughout the entire knee joint.

If you need a knee replacement after a severe injury, chances are you will have a total replacement. Injuries that are severe enough to require joint replacement tend to damage more than one compartment.

What happens during a partial knee replacement?

When you have a partial knee replacement, Dr. Bright makes a minimally invasive incision and removes the damaged cartilage and bone in one compartment. Then he implants prosthetic pieces, using metal bone replacements and a plastic spacer to take the place of cartilage.

What are the benefits of robot-guided partial knee replacement?

Dr. Bright uses today’s most advanced technology, the Mako robot-assisted surgery system, to perform more accurate partial knee replacements. Dr. Bright uploads a CT scan of your knee to the system, and it uses the image to create a 3D model of your joint.

Dr. Bright uses the model to precisely plan the size and placement of your partial knee prosthetics. Before your surgery, he uses a special tool to map your joint structure, and then the system compares your 3D model with your actual joint, further verifying the accuracy of the surgical plan.

For the next step, Dr. Bright guides a robotic arm, using it as a tool to remove the damaged tissues. The robotic tool sends tactile sensations to warn Dr. Bright when he’s near the edge of the area, helping him to preserve more healthy tissues.

To learn if you’re a good candidate for a partial knee replacement, call Schofield, Hand and Bright Orthopaedics or schedule an appointment online today.