Is Unicompartmental Knee Replacement Right for You?
The knee is divided into three compartments, which include the medial compartment, the lateral compartment, and the patellofemoral compartment. In some patients, arthritis is confined to just one of these compartments.
If you’re experiencing pain in your knee due to arthritis that is confined to a single compartment, a unicompartmental knee replacement may be an option for you.
“During unicompartmental knee replacement, we only remove the damaged compartment of the knee, replacing it with metal and plastic parts,” explains Dr. Christopher N. Walton, knee surgeon at Slocum Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. “This allows us to leave the remaining healthy cartilage and knee ligaments, resulting in a quicker and less painful recovery.”
Allowing the patient’s healthy bone, cartilage, and ligaments to remain intact provides a more natural-feeling knee than a total knee replacement. Patients who undergo unicompartmental knee replacement may also experience an easier recovery and quicker ability to bend their knee following surgery.
Patients at Slocum Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine can undergo unicompartmental knee replacement at the Slocum Surgery Center. Often performed as an outpatient procedure, patients experience shorter wait times and more specialized care at the surgery center compared to a hospital stay.
For additional information on knee replacement or to schedule an appointment, contact the doctors at Slocum Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine by calling 541.249.4091 or click here to request an appointment online.
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