Partial Knee Replacement
Your knee joints facilitate numerous movements that allow you to live an active and productive life. When degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis affect your knee, the wear and tear eat away at the connective tissues or articular cartilage. This critical substance prevents the bones of the knee joint from scraping together during movement.
When this cartilage becomes thin, movement can cause the knee joint to become inflamed and painful, hindering its function and your life. Approximately 30% of the US population is believed to suffer from knee osteoarthritis. Both men and women are equally susceptible until about age 50, with women’s risk increasing as time passes.
Osteoarthritis can cause uneven wear, affecting either the inside (medial) or outside (lateral) compartments of the knee joint. When only one compartment is primarily affected, your orthopedic specialist may recommend a partial knee replacement. Silicon Valley Orthopaedics in California offers partial knee replacement surgery at both of our medical centers.
Partial vs. Total Knee Replacement in Fremont
When your natural knee joint no longer functions correctly without pain and more conservative treatments such as physical therapy and medication do not bring relief, your specialist may recommend a knee replacement. Most accident injuries to the knee and many degenerative conditions affect the entire knee joint and warrant a total knee replacement. This procedure replaces all the major knee components with artificial pieces.
In many cases, degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis cause uneven wear in the knee joint, only affecting a single compartment. These situations can be remedied by replacing only the worn components, leaving the other natural components intact. This is known as a partial knee replacement. The specialists at Silicon Valley Orthopaedics will recommend a partial or total knee replacement individually, after thoroughly considering the patient’s condition and desires.
Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacement
Silicon Valley Orthopaedics uses the latest in 3D scanning and robotic technology to perform partial and total knee replacement procedures. A CT scan provides the data that allows a computer to construct a 3D model of your knee and the surgical space. Your orthopedic surgeon then uses robot technology to help guide his movements within the surgical envelope.
This is not robot-controlled surgery – the surgeon is in complete control. The robotic assistance allows your surgeon to make more precise movements within the surgical space and exact placements of the new artificial knee components. It also prevents extraneous movements that can harm nearby tissues. Robotic-assisted partial or total knee replacements result in:
- Smaller incisions for a faster recovery
- Reduced risk of damaging nearby tissues and structures
- More precise placement of knee joint components for a more natural-feeling movement
- Easier rehabilitation process due to the smoother operation of the new parts
- Faster return to an active lifestyle
- Longer-lasting replacement results
Foster City Partial Knee Replacement Surgery
If your doctor believes that knee joint replacement is warranted in your treatment for knee pain and restricted mobility, call Silicon Valley Orthopaedics and ask about the possibility of a robotic-assisted partial knee replacement surgery. Due to the uneven wear of osteoarthritis, you may only need certain knee joint components replaced to enable full use and eliminate pain.
If you’re exploring partial knee replacement, Silicon Valley Orthopaedics is your trusted partner. Our board-certified knee surgeons are leaders in minimally invasive procedures. We proudly serve Los Gatos, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Fremont, and San Francisco. Schedule your consultation and take the first step toward better mobility!