Partial knee arthroplasty (Unicompartmental)

The knee joint is formed by the union of three bones: the femur (thigh bone), the tibia (leg bone), and the kneecap. The knee has three main compartments: the medial compartment (located internally), the lateral compartment (located externally), and the anterior or patellofemoral compartment (between the kneecap and the femur).

 

When two or more compartments of the knee are severely compromised, total knee replacement (TKR) surgery uses implants that are placed in the bones of the knee. There are patients who will only have one of these three compartments, usually the medial compartment. In the latter there is an arthroplasty that reconstructs only the internal compartment (partial knee arthroplasty).

 

The entire replaced knee may feel strange or feel heavy and not move like the original knee. This can lead to patient dissatisfaction and decreased “quality of life” post-surgery.