Partial Knee Replacement vs. Total Knee Replacement

Quality of life and mobility are affected by many degenerative conditions such as knee osteoarthritis and injuries and oftentimes you will need to have surgery to restore function and alleviate pain. Two of the common surgical options for treating knee issues are partial and total knee replacement and in this article, we will explain more about these procedures and how they differ in scope.

A partial knee replacement Melbourne is where only the damaged part of the knee joint is replaced and this is done using artificial implants. If you have knee arthritis or if the damage to the knee is limited to only one part of it such as the lateral or medial compartment, you will be a good candidate for this surgery. The unaffected parts of the knee joint will be preserved during the procedure.  The main advantage of partial knee replacement is that healthy tissue is preserved and only the damaged portion is replaced. And this allows the surgeons to retain the natural function and anatomy of the compartments that are unaffected so that you can experience a better range of motion and a high level of stability. You will also recover faster compared to total knee replacement as the procedure is less invasive. Smaller incisions are done in this procedure and this ensures that the patients experience less swelling, stiffness and pain after the procedure. Many patients are able to return to their normal life sooner compared to following a total knee replacement.

There is improved joint function

And mobility experienced after partial knee replacement compared to what the patient was able to do previously. And this procedure can address specific areas of damage or arthritis and it is a way to provide targeted relief from pain. There is a lower risk of complications compared to total knee replacement as well because partial knee replacement doesn’t remove a lot of bone and soft tissue. This will bring down the risk for blood loss, infection and other postoperative complications. However, if you have advanced arthritis or significant damage is sustained by multiple compartments of the knee joint, a total knee replacement will be needed. Here, the entire knee joint is replaced with artificial components. The shin and thigh bone along with the kneecap will be replaced with prosthetic implants.

Comprehensive correction

Can be achieved with a total knee replacement and all areas of damage or arthritis can be addressed. This will provide effective pain relief. Total knee replacements are also long lasting and durable so that you will be able to enjoy decades of pain relief and improved range of movement. Thanks to modern advancements in surgery and medicine. The design and implant materials used in total knee replacement closely mimic the natural knee joint further contributing to lasting performance. The outcomes for this are predictable and you will be able to have functional improvement and pain relief. This procedure has been studied and refined extensively over a long time and there are standardised surgical techniques to provide reliable results to patients.