Alternatives

Surgical alternatives

Depending on the seriousness of your arthritis, you may not need a total knee replacement and can benefit from an alternative knee surgery. Some of the common surgical alternatives to total knee replacement surgery include arthroscopy, osteotomy of upper tibia or femur, and synovectomy.

Partial knee replacement

Another alternative is partial (or unicompartmental) knee replacement, which is performed when only one compartment of the knee is affected by arthritis. Surgeons generally use a small incision to remove the joint surface and a small amount of bone, replacing them with the implant. The recovery period is also usually shorter than with a total knee replacement. Many people can return to walking in two to four weeks, although physical therapy may still be needed to restore knee strength and function.

Wright’s ADVANCE® Uni-Knee: For patients considering partial knee replacement surgery, Wright’s ADVANCE® Unicompartmental Knee System (or Uni-Knee) offers a unique design that matches the anatomical shape of the normal knee. Using the minimally-invasive surgical technique, the surgery can be performed through a 3” to 4” incision (as opposed to an 8” to 12” scar left by total knee replacement procedures). The Uni-Knee replaces designs that required the surgeon to reshape the bone to fit the implant, which resulted in more bone removal. By providing a more normal shape, the Uni-Knee offers more normal motion and may lead to longer implant life, delaying or preventing the need for total knee replacement.

Conserves more bone: Another benefit to the less-invasive Uni-Knee surgery is the amount of bone conserved. The ADVANCE® Uni-Knee is designed to leave as much unaffected bone in the body as possible.

Shorter recovery period: With a Uni-Knee, patients generally experience a shorter hospital stay and recovery time, less rehabilitation, and a significantly smaller scar. It is an excellent alternative to total knee replacement.

To learn more about the ADVANCE® Uni-Knee, or to see if it is the right option for your knee replacement surgery, locate a physician in your area using our Physician Locator.

Alternatives

Surgical alternatives

Partial knee replacement

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