Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is surgery to replace either the inside (medial) or outside (lateral) compartments of the knee.

Because only one part of the damaged knee is replaced, it is often called a partial knee replacement.

See also: Total knee replacement

Partial knee replacement; Knee replacement - partial; Unicondylar knee replacement; Arthroplasty - unicompartmental knee; UKA; Minimally invasive partial knee replacement

Partial knee replacement surgery involves removing damaged cartilage and bone in the knee joint. Man-made (artificial) pieces called prostheses are then placed in the knee.

You will not feel any pain during surgery because you will receive anesthesia, medicine that blocks pain. You will have one of these two types of anesthesia:

• General anesthesia. This means you will be unconscious and unable to feel pain.
• Regional ( spinal or epidural) anesthesia. Medicine is put into your back to make you numb below your waist. You will also get medicine to make you sleepy if you have this type of anesthesia.

Images

The structure of a joint

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Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty Risks

Review Date: 12/20/2010
Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)