X-ray of a patient's knee where a partial knee arthroplasty is replacing one tibiofemoral compartment.
What is a knee compartment?
There are three areas of the knee that have independent function. They are referred to as 'compartments':
- the patellofemoral compartment, where the patella has a functional relationship to the femur
- the two tibiofemoral compartments, where each half of the tibia articulates with each half of the femur
In a partial knee arthroplasty, or partial knee replacement, metal and plastic replace one or more of these compartments. If a single compartment is replaced, it may be referred to as a unicompartmental arthroplasty.
Indications for partial knee arthroplasty
Partial knee arthroplasty in indicated in the younger patient when damage or disease affects only one compartment, and the others are still healthy.
By restoring the anatomy of the damaged are, the patient may be spared progression of the damage to the other parts of the knee.
"....traditional indications for UKA include degenerative arthritis of the knee affecting one compartment, >60 years of age, body weight <82 kg (180 lb), low-demand for activities, range of motion ≥90°, flexion contracture ≤5°, angular deformity <15°, and absence of symptoms and signs of inflammatory arthritis....."
Relevant links on KNEEguru
A-Z Keywords
Compartment, Compartment overload, Medial compartment, Lateral compartment, Patellofemoral joint
Forum discussions
- Caroline's own Oxford unicompartmental knee replacement update thread - A patient takes us through her partial knee arthroplasty journey.