Total knee incisions are so big! That is because total knee replacement replaces all three compartments: the anterior under your kneecap, the medial next to your other knee and the lateral compartments.
A unicondylar knee (a Uni) replaces one compartment and removes about one-fourth as much bone through a three-inch incision. This surgery results in a third of the blood loss and allows the patient to recover in a third of the time.
If your arthritis pain is in one compartment, you may be a candidate for a Uni knee replacement, especially if you are younger than 70 years.
Ortho surgeons doing Uni knees may be hard to find. Talk with your primary care physician and see if he knows an orthopedic surgeon who does Uni knees, do an internet search or contact Surgical Affiliates of California.
Walker Wynkoop MD, a resident of Los Banos and a Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon with 30 years of experience. Surgical Affiliates of California, 807 Illinois St, Los Banos. His email is Doc@Wynmd.com.
