Partial knee replacement
| Normal anatomy |
Cartilage covers the end of bones in joints to provide shock absorption during movement.
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| Indication |
Normal cartilage on the end of the femur is compared to worn, damaged femoral cartilage.
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| Incision |
A small cut (incision), typically about three inches, is made over the area of the knee that is damaged.
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| Procedure |
The damaged bone is removed and replaced with an implant (prosthetic) made of plastic and metal.
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| 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).
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Review Date:
6/2/2006
Reviewed By:
Kevin B. Freedman, MD, MSCE, Sports Medicine, Orthopaedic Specialists, Bryn Mawr, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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