What is Knee Replacement

A partial knee replacement (PKR) is a surgical procedure to replace only one part of a damaged knee. It can replace either the inside (medial) part, the outside (lateral) part, or the kneecap (Patellofemoral) part of the knee.With PKR, only the damaged area of the knee joint is replaced, which may help to minimize trauma to healthy bone and tissue, and also helps relieve arthritis in on or two of the three compartments of the knee.

Surgery to replace the whole knee joint is called total knee replacement TKR).

Indication
Partial Knee Replacement is intended for use in individuals with joint disease resulting from Degenerative, Rheumatoid and Post traumatic arthritis, and for moderate deformity of the Knee.

Clinical Presentation
People with advanced osteoarthritis and conservative treatments have been exhausted.Mild valgus or varus deformity. Pain is often noted when performing physical activities requiring a wide range of motion in the knee joint.

Pre-operative Preparation
Pre-operative preparation begins immediately following surgical consultation and lasts approximately one month.The patient is to perform range of motion exercises and hip, knee and ankle strengthening (Isometrics) as directed by Therapist.

Currently there is insufficient quality evidence to support the use of pre-operative physiotherapy in older adults undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Preoperative education is currently an important part of patient care. There is some evidence that it may slightly reduce anxiety before knee replacement surgery, with low risk of detrimental effects.

Post-operative Rehabilitation
The length of post-operative hospitalization is 5 days on average depending on the health status of the patient and the amount of support available outside the hospital setting. Protected weight bearing on crutches or a walker is required until specified by the surgeon because of weakness in the quadriceps muscle.

To increase the likelihood of a good outcome after surgery, multiple weeks of physiotherapy is necessary. In these weeks, the therapist will help the patient return to normal activities, as well as prevent blood clots,improve circulation,increase range of motion,and eventually strengthen the surrounding muscles through specific exercises.