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Partial knee replacement - series
Incision
A small cut (incision), typically about three inches, is made over the area of the knee that is damaged.
Procedure
The damaged bone is removed and replaced with an implant (prosthetic) made of plastic and metal.
Indication
Normal cartilage on the end of the femur is compared to worn, damaged femoral cartilage.
Normal anatomy
Cartilage covers the end of bones in joints to provide shock absorption during movement.
Aftercare
Most patients have a rapid recovery and have considerably less pain than they did before surgery and go home the day after surgery (unlike the 3 or 4 days required by a total knee replacement).
Review Date: 2009-08-26
Reviewed By: Dennis Ogiela, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, Danbury Hospital, Danbury, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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