Knee Replacement is the most common among joint replacement surgeries. The knee replacement is indicated in conditions in which the knee joint has reached a point when painful symptoms can no longer be controlled with non-operative treatments and there is a significant loss of function and limitations in performing even day to day activities.
Although knee joint looks like a simple joint, yet is structurally complex. It is more likely to be injured than is any other joint in the body. The common indications for knee replacement surgery are – Osteo-arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis and the conditions where there is signification joint pain, deformity and loss of function.
There are various types of joint replacement surgeries. Depending upon the indications, patient's age and medical condition of the joint, the following knee replacement surgeries can be performed:
Total Knee joint Replacement (TKR) – TKR is the choice of treatment when all other conservative treatments have failed to relieve the severely disabling knee pain.
High Flex Knee Replacement – Also called as full bend knee replacement, the surgery allows knee bending up to 155 degrees. It is a boon to patients seeking increased function after knee replacement. It allows activities after the surgery which require deep knee bend like stair climbing, squatting, kneeling, gardening etc.
Minimally invasive quadriceps (sparing total knee replacement) - Quadriceps- sparing knee replacement surgery is the technique that allows surgeons to insert the same knee replacement implants through a shorter incision that avoids any kind of trauma to the quadriceps muscles. Unlike the conventional surgery, where the incision is about 7-8"long, minimally invasive surgery is done through an incision which is 3-4" long, resulting in quick recovery. The patients are able to walk as early as third day after the surgery.
Partial Knee Replacement (Uni-condylar or Uni-compartmental) -
Uni-compartmental knee replacement is an option for a small percentage of people suffering from osteoarthritis of a part of the knee joint. In a uni-compartmental knee replacement, only the damaged compartment is replaced with metal and plastic.
