If you suffer from osteoarthritis in your knees, you know how uncomfortable life can be, and it might seem like your mobility will continue to be limited, but there are options available to help you get back to living your best life through knee replacement surgery! Knee replacement surgery is often recommended for patients with osteoarthritis in their knees. At Iowa City Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC), our team of care providers know the thought of having surgery can be stressful and scary to patients. However, knee replacement surgery can help you get the most out of your life by taking away the pain and helping you regain mobility. Furthermore, our team offers an alternative to traditional knee replacement surgeries that make the process easier than before.

If your doctor has recently recommended that you have knee replacement surgery, there is a less invasive alternative that our expert orthopedic surgeons offer at Iowa City ASC. Knee osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage protecting the bones that make up the knee wear away after years of use. Sometimes the loss of cartilage is less pervasive, though, and a total knee replacement surgery is not necessary to restore use and function. Depending on the extent of the osteoarthritis in your knee, you might be eligible for a “partial” knee replacement, also known as unicompartmental knee replacement. Unicompartmental knee replacement surgery is an easier way to repair the function of the knee and decrease pain. This new method for knee replacement is easier than traditional total knee replacements, because the surgical procedure is less invasive.

During traditional knee replacement procedures, cartilage and bone that has been affected by osteoarthritis is resurfaced with metal and plastic. Total knee replacement surgeries involve resurfacing the entire joint. This process makes the whole procedure more invasive, as bigger incisions have to be made, leading to longer recovery times in the hospital. While total knee replacements are done in the inpatient setting at a hospital, requiring postoperative care, unicompartmental or partial knee replacement surgery is made quick and easy in the outpatient setting at ASCs like Iowa City ASC.

During partial knee replacement surgery, only a portion of the knee undergoes resurfacing. For patients whose osteoarthritis is limited to a particular part of their knee, this less invasive procedure is a great alternative to the traditional surgery. Partial knee replacement surgeries are less invasive because smaller incisions are used to reach the affected parts of the knee. Because of this, patients are able to spend less time in the clinic after their procedure, and they are able to resume their day-to-day life faster than patients who have total knee replacement surgeries. Partial knee replacement surgery is an excellent option for patients who are eligible for the procedure. While total knee replacement could become necessary in the future if osteoarthritis spreads to the rest of the knee, for patients who don’t run that risk, the unicompartmental knee surgery is a great opportunity that offers benefits such as the following:

• Faster recovery time
• Decreased pain following the surgery
• More cost-effective care at an ASC

Patients who have had partial knee replacement surgery also enjoy the benefit of a more natural feeling in their knees, since they are able to retain the non-affected parts.

After partial knee repair surgery, patients will deal with some pain, but this is a natural part of the recovery process. At Iowa City ASC, our team of surgeons will make sure you are prepared for your recovery process at home. We will advise you on pain management and how to make the most of your recovery time.

If you’ve been suffering from osteoarthritis and are in need of knee replacement surgery, contact our team at Iowa City ASC. If you’re an eligible candidate, unicompartmental knee replacement surgery is great option that offers you the care you need without the invasiveness of a tradition total joint surgery. [Contact] our team today to start your road to living your life the way you were meant to!

SUMMARY

If you suffer from osteoarthritis in your knees, you know how uncomfortable life can be, and it might seem like your mobility will continue to be limited, but there are options available to help you get back to living your best life through knee replacement surgery. Knee replacement surgery is often intimidating for patients, but unicompartmental knee replacement, or partial knee replacement, makes the process easier, requiring a less invasive surgery and quicker recovery time.