Unicompartmental knee replacement (also known as a uni knee replacement) is an option for patients with more advanced osteoarthritis that have exhausted the nonsurgical treatment options.
Your doctor may recommend this partial knee replacement if your arthritis is confined to one of the three knee compartments:
- The medial compartment (the inside of the knee).
- The lateral compartment (the outside of the knee).
- The patellofemoral compartment (the knee front between the kneecap and thighbone).
In a uni knee replacement, your Southern Joint Replacement Institute surgeon will perform this surgery using knee arthroscopy along with special saws to remove the damaged compartment cartilage. He or she will cap the ends of the thighbone and shin bone with metal coverings held in place with medical cement. A plastic insert is placed between the two metal coverings to provide a smooth surface.
The bone, cartilage and ligaments in the healthy parts of the knee are kept intact.
For more information or to make an appointment, call 877-442-SJRI (7574).