Osteoarthritis — the degeneration of the cartilage tissue characterises osteoarthritis in between joints. As the cartilage wears away, bones that were once protected by this connective tissue can rub against each other, causing increasingly severe pain, joint instability, and decreased range of motion.
What is a partial knee replacement?
Compared to traditional total knee replacement surgery, where the entire knee joint is removed and replaced by an implant, partial knee replacement surgery involves replacing only the damaged compartment of the knee while preserving the healthy segments. This makes it a less invasive alternative.
Your orthopaedic surgeon will carry out a variety of diagnostic tests, such as imaging scans, to better understand your condition and the extent of your injury. These scans will help establish the optimal point and position for the partial knee implant.
The Oxford partial knee replacement
The Oxford Partial Knee Replacement system is a type of partial knee replacement with technology that allows for more natural-feeling knee movement. This implant comprises three components – a femoral component, a tibial metal component, and a mobile meniscus bearing. The combination of these components aids the patient by eliminating contact stress on the knee during its range of motion, requiring minimal implant bone removal and an optimal anatomical shape for bone coverage.
This implant’s specific fit into the bone allows greater stability and durability than the implant used in a total knee replacement. The superior build of the Oxford partial knee dramatically minimises the friction and stress caused, allowing a vast improvement in durability as clinical outcomes suggest a 94% survivability rate after fifteen years, with 79% of patients who underwent Oxford partial knee replacement describing the results of their operation as “excellent or good” after a ten-year follow-up.
The immediate benefits following an Oxford knee replacement include patients being able to start their rehabilitation programs quicker and a reduced complication rate.
Benefits of a partial knee replacement
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Shorter recovery time
An Oxford Partial Knee Replacement removes up to 75% less bone and cartilage than a total knee replacement, and immediate benefits such as less post-operative pain and swelling are regularly observed in patients. This, alongside the smaller size of the Oxford partial knee replacement implant, leads to less damage to the bone and soft tissue during the operation, allowing for faster recovery and an efficient rehabilitation program to be implemented almost immediately.
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A partial knee replacement carries less post-op risk
A partial knee replacement surgery is done via minimally invasive surgical (MIS) techniques that, when compared to conventional knee replacement, involves a skin incision of half the length, with less damage to the muscle, ligaments and soft tissues around the knee. This results in less pain, swelling, and faster recovery.
Patients who undergo partial knee replacement generally experience shorter hospital stays, quicker recovery timelines, and fewer complications than a total knee replacement. Most patients go home within a day of the surgery and are often back on their feet a few hours after the operation.
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More affordable than a total knee replacement
Costs incurred largely depend on operation fees (Surgeon’s fees, facility fees, and anaesthesia fees), the type of surgery (Oxford Partial Knee Replacement surgery vs Total Knee surgery), cost of implants, and supplementary bills such as the prescription of medicine and follow-up reviews.
While dependent on individual insurance policies, costs for surgery can mostly be covered by insurance in Singapore.
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More natural knee motion
As over 70% of the native knee joint is preserved, partial knee replacement has been shown to better restore knee flexibility and provide a more natural-feeling knee, in contrast to total knee replacements.
Summary
In conclusion, partial knee replacements are safer, boast quicker recovery and create a more natural-feeling knee. Unfortunately, not all patients with knee arthritis can undergo a partial knee replacement, and suitability is highly dependent on the severity of the knee arthritis and the area of damage. This makes early detection and treatment paramount in achieving the best outcomes.
Sometimes, for milder osteoarthritis, more conservative, non-surgical forms of treatment may also be recommended in the form of physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory medication or knee injections. It all starts with a thorough diagnosis and understanding of your current condition. Dr James Wee will work with you in deciding on the most suitable procedure based on your current condition, medical history and lifestyle requirements.
References:
Pandit, H et al. “The clinical outcome of minimally invasive Phase 3 Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: a 15-year follow-up of 1000 UKAs.” The bone & joint journal vol. 97-B,11 (2015): 1493-500. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.97B11.35634.