Tennova Healthcare Asks: “Is a Partial Knee Replacement Right for You?”
8/15/2018
Health system shares five important questions to ask your orthopedic surgeon
Millions of Americans have degenerative joint disease. This year, an estimated 700,000 Americans will choose to have knee replacement surgery as a solution for joint pain and discomfort. Are you a candidate?
Tennova Healthcare wants you to know that advancements in the treatment of osteoarthritis—including robotic-assisted partial knee replacement—make this an ideal time to talk to an orthopedic surgeon to determine if joint replacement is right for you.
Research indicates that up to 30 percent of adults in the U.S. are living with osteoarthritis in one or both knees. Until the age of 50, the condition is equally common in men and women, but prevalence in women increases after age 50. As the population ages—and seniors become more active later in life—the demand for stronger and healthier knees continues to drive innovation in the medical community.
“Candidates for knee replacement surgery have traditionally been those suffering from significant pain and limited mobility due to osteoarthritis,” said David Hovis, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the Tennova Center for Orthopedics at Turkey Creek Medical Center. “But as patients become increasingly active in their 60s, 70s and even their 80s, we are continually challenged to develop and provide new and better clinical solutions.
“Most patients are no longer content with just being able to walk without pain at age 70,” Dr. Hovis added. “Now, they demand strong and flexible joints that allow them to hike, bike, garden, golf and play tennis.”
According to Dr. Hovis, while osteoarthritis can be caused or worsened by injury or inflammatory conditions, one of the biggest causes of osteoarthritis is your genetic makeup. Osteoarthritis is the wearing away of the connective tissue—or cartilage—within a joint. Cartilage prevents one bone from scraping against another, acts as a shock absorber, and allows for smooth and stable movement within the joint. Because the durability of cartilage is a genetic factor, it’s true that many people end up with osteoarthritis, simply because it runs in the family.
Early treatments often consist of weight loss programs, anti-inflammatory medications, and injection therapies to help supplement the lost cartilage and minimize pain. When these remedies are no longer sufficient, and the patient’s quality of life is at risk, knee replacement is often the next step.
Total vs. Partial Knee Replacement
While partial knee replacement surgeries have been around for several years, they used to be reserved for older patients who lived mostly sedentary lifestyles. Now, partial knee replacement is often preferred in younger patients because their recovery is quicker and with much less pain. It is estimated that about 1 in 20 patients with arthritic knees are eligible for partial knee procedures.
“There are three compartments of the knee joint, but the inner or medial area is the most likely to experience cartilage breakdown,” Dr. Hovis said. “When arthritis is present in only one of the joint’s compartments—and it doesn’t respond to non-surgical treatments—the patient may be a good candidate for partial knee replacement, offering them less pain and recovery time than a full replacement.”
When deciding on any surgical treatment plan, your surgeon will give consideration to your current health status and complication risks, your lifestyle and its physical demands, and your ability to coordinate the down time and therapy you will need for recovery in post-surgery. You should be fully open with your doctor about these issues, so he or she can identify whether a full or partial knee procedure is the safest and most beneficial path for you.
If you are considering a partial knee replacement, ask your orthopedic surgeon these questions:
- What kind of prosthesis will you use in my knee, and why?
- What will my recovery entail, and when can I expect to return to my job/social activities?
- Once my partial knee resurfacing is complete, will I be arthritis free?
- What are the long-term expectations for my new joint? What can I expect 5, 10 and 20 years post-surgery?
- What are the potential complications of surgery, and what can I do to minimize them?
Robotic-assisted partial knee and total hip replacement is now available at Turkey Creek Medical Center. Joint replacement surgery is also performed at Physicians Regional Medical Center, Jefferson Memorial Hospital and Lakeway Regional Hospital.
For more information or to find a doctor, call 1-855-TENNOVA (836-6682).
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