Partial Knee Replacement

A partial knee replacement is designed to replace arthritic bone in one or two compartments of the knee. It’s a smaller surgery compared to total knee replacement, and results in less pain and a quicker recovery period.

The Next Frontier in Joint Surgery: A Pain-free Return to Impact Sports

Gone are the days when knee replacements meant saying good-bye to impact sports. At Nano, we know how important your active lifestyle is, and we can help you keep it. We perform partial knee replacements with the innovative EPIK System. It’s a streamlined, minimally-invasive approach that helps our patients:

Get back on their feet within 30 minutes of surgery
Minimize bone loss
Return home to heal within two hours
Maximize their range of motion

Our outcomes are virtually unheard of with traditional joint surgery approaches, making us the leading destination for patients who want a fast recovery and full function after their procedure.

The Importance of Bone-sparing Techniques

During partial knee replacement, it’s important that your surgeon preserves as much healthy bone as possible for two reasons:

The preservation of healthy bone results in a joint that feels and functions naturally.
While the results of this procedure can last for many years, some patients require a total knee replacement in time. Conserving healthy bone is critical to ensuring a successful future procedure.

What to Expect During Surgery

Partial knee replacement takes one to two hours to complete. To begin, we will make an incision in the front of the knee. Through that opening, we will inspect the knee to ensure that the arthritis is limited to one to two compartments. From there, your surgeon will resurface the inside portion of the femur (thigh bone) and apply a thin, anatomically designed metal cap. This unique design preserves the bone and facilitates normal range of motion.

Next, a thin cavity is buried into the tibia (lower leg bone) and a modular metal insert with a small metal peg is applied. Unlike a total knee prosthetic, the metal peg barely penetrates the bone, maintaining normal knee anatomy. Once the metal insert is secured on the tibia, a thin polyethylene insert is applied to facilitate smooth contact with the metal cap on the femur.

Recovery

Our team offers strong support during the rehabilitation process. A dedicated physical therapist will help you mobilize your knee right after surgery and at home, and a nurse will care for your incisions and monitor your recovery.

Because it’s a smaller surgery, you can expect your function to return faster when compared to a total knee replacement. Most Los Angeles patients can make a full return to activity in six to eight weeks – at which point many of them are skiing, biking and playing their favorite sports once again.

FAQ

How long will my partial implant last?

Are there activity limitations after a partial knee replacement?

How long will my partial implant last?

Today’s partial knee replacements are far more successful than they were in the past. They used to be seen as a temporary measure before a total knee replacement. While that can still be the case, when done correctly and in the right patients, a partial replacement can last for 20+ years.

Are there activity limitations after a partial knee replacement?

The answer to this question depends on the patient. In most cases, we recommend opting for low-impact sports and exercises after partial knee replacement. For example, we may suggest biking, walking and swimming, as opposed to jogging, to prevent excess wear on your joint.

Are You a Candidate?

A good candidate for partial knee replacement with the EPIK System is a patient with:

Arthritis that is limited to one or two knee compartments
Knee pain that is no longer relieved with conservative therapy
Intact ligaments

If you have inflammatory arthritis, severe knee stiffness, or ligament damage, a partial knee replacement likely won’t be in your best interest. During your consultation at one of our offices in Los Angeles, Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, or Bakersfield, we will guide you in selecting the surgical approach that’s right for you.

Schedule a Consultation Today

To learn more about the partial knee replacement offered at Nano Clinic – and to determine your candidacy for this procedure – please contact us today and schedule a consultation.