Arthritis occurs when the smooth articular cartilage that lines the joint surfaces becomes damaged and starts wearing out. As the damage accumulates the cartilage roughens and thins, which eventually leads to pain and stiffness.
If your symptoms are affecting your daily activities and sleep, despite adequate non-surgical treatment, it may be time to consider a knee replacement.
If the damage in your knee is confined to an isolated area of your knee, you may be suitable for a unicompartmental (partial) knee replacement (UKR). The advantage of a partial knee replacement is that we only replace the damaged areas, leaving the rest of the knee joint. This is all carried out through a mini-incision, there is no need to remove any ligaments in the knee, which leads to a quicker recovery with better function, especially in terms of bend, than a total knee replacement.
If you are at the stage to be considering a knee replacement, Mr Lee will discuss with you whether a partial knee replacement is a suitable option.