Variations of Knee Replacement Surgery
There are many different implant manufacturers and all require slightly different instrumentation and technique. No consensus has emerged over which design of knee replacement is the best. Clinical studies are very difficult to perform requiring large numbers of cases followed over many years. The most significant variations are between cemented and uncemented components, between operations which spare or sacrifice the posterior cruciate ligament and between resurfacing the patella or not. Some also study patient satisfaction data associated with pain.
Minimally invasive procedures have been developed in total knee replacement (TKR) to that do not require dramatic cuts to and through the quadriceps femoris muscle, reducing post-operative pain and disability. This type of less invasive procedure is done by using gender-specific or patient-specific knee implants that fit the knee better and more precisely, and have better long-term affects on the patient. ConforMIS Inc. was the first medical device manufacturer to develop a complete line of patient-specific knee implants.
Partial knee replacement
Unicompartmental Arthroplasty (UKA), also called partial knee replacement, is an option for some patients. The knee is generally divided into three "compartments": medial (the inside part of the knee), lateral (the outside), and patellofemoral (the joint between the kneecap and the thighbone). Most patients with arthritis severe enough to consider knee replacement have significant wear in two or more of the above compartments and are best treated with total knee replacement. A minority of patients (the exact percentage is hotly debated but is probably between 10 and 30 percent) have wear confined primarily to one compartment, usually the medial, and may be candidates for unicompartmental knee replacement. Advantages of UKA compared to TKA include smaller incision, easier post -op rehabilitation, shorter hospital stay, less blood loss, lower risk of infection, stiffness, and blood clots, and easier revision if necessary. While most recent data suggests that UKA in properly selected patients has survival rates comparable to TKA, most surgeons believe that TKA is the more reliable long term procedure. Persons with infectious or inflammatory arthritis (Rheumatoid, Lupus, Psoriatic ), or marked deformity are not candidates for this procedure.
Knee replacement surgery is require when you have injured it or it is just worn out. You can prepare for that time now by purchasing a Texas Health Insurance Policy for your Family.