The old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” applies to many things, but did you know this includes knee repair as well?
Simply, if only a portion of your knee — your body’s largest joint — is damaged or injured, your orthopedic surgeon may recommend a partial knee replacement as opposed to full replacement, also known as knee arthroscopy.
Dr. Vasilios Mathews expertly performs a wide range of orthopedic surgery procedures, including partial and full knee replacement, hip replacement, and revision knee and hip replacement after an unsuccessful earlier procedure. He creates highly personalized treatment plans for his patients and is dedicated to providing education and support before and after your surgery, as you recover.
This surgery is necessary when you have damaged tissue and bone (often due to osteoarthritis) in your knee, but your entire knee isn’t affected.
Partial knee replacement allows Dr. Mathews to remove the problematic components of your knee and replace them with an artificial implant, or prosthetic. Still, the cartilage, ligaments, and bone in your knee that aren’t impacted are left alone.
Fortunately, there are several significant benefits that a partial knee replacement delivers to patients. Here, we’ve compiled what we consider the top five pluses that are the most compelling.
Dr. Mathews has extensive experience with all types of knee replacement procedures, and he has also performed many partial replacements using a device called an Oxford mobile bearing.
This in-demand technique enjoys a high rate of success. The mobile-bearing prosthetic is placed on one side of your knee, and it’s designed to be bone-sparing as well.
The procedure’s versatility allows Dr. Mathews to replace the inside or outside section of your knee or your kneecap.
Unlike traditional surgery, partial knee replacement is minimally invasive, meaning that Dr. Mathews doesn’t need to make any large incisions. Instead, he needs to make only a few small ones.
Since this type of procedure is so much less traumatic to your body, it’s associated with less pain, a faster recovery, reduced bleeding and scarring, and a lower risk of post-surgical infection.
A partial knee replacement using the Oxford mobile bearing has been shown to restore superior functionality to your knee joint.
As compared to a full knee replacement, a partial knee replacement allows your knee to bend and move much more easily, fluidly, and naturally.
In addition to damage from osteoarthritis, partial knee replacement works well on patients with:
This list again highlights the versatility of partial knee replacement, as it addresses a diverse range of conditions.
Patients welcome the news that partial knee replacement recovery takes only about half the time of full knee replacement. This is because it’s a less complicated surgery, and you don’t experience as much post-surgical pain.
Most patients who work in offices can return to work after two weeks, and if you have a more active job where you’re on your feet more, Dr. Vasilios can advise you about when it’s best to return to work after your surgery.
You can also return to enjoying the activities you love sooner. This even includes playing sports like golf and tennis — both of which ask a lot of your knees.
If you have persistent knee pain and discomfort, don’t grin and bear it any longer. You deserve relief, and partial knee replacement may be the best solution.
Contact our Houston office at 713-794-3548 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mathews, or use our convenient online booking tool.
