17 December 2020 Author : Nuno Tavares Knee arthrosis affects many people worldwide and is often a disabling condition. Joint wear leads to a gradual disappearance of articular cartilage and to the consequent appearance of symptoms, such as pain and a limited mobility. Arthritic disease has a major impact on the quality of life of patients. Treatment of knee arthrosis The treatment to be performed in knee arthrosis depends on the extent and severity of the joint lesions. When severe arthrosis is established and other treatments have not been successful, the alternative to consider will be a j oint replacement surgery, or arthroplasty , better known as knee prosthesis . Unicompartmental arthroplasty and total arthroplasty The knee joint is divided into three zones or compartments: Medial tibiofemoral (“inner part of knee”); Lateral tibiofemoral (“outer part of knee); Patellofemoral (“front of knee, kneecap”). In many patients, arthrosis may not have reached all compartments of the joint. In such cases, the surgical option may be a unicompartmental arthroplasty , that is, a joint replacement limited to the injured region, preserving the rest of the knee. Compared to total arthroplasty, the unicompartmental prosthesis has the following advantages : Less invasive surgery, with a smaller incision and less damage to the knee structures; Less blood loss; Greater bone preservation; Allows a greater degree of mobility; Better preservation of knee movements while maintaining the gait pattern; Shorter hospitalization time; Earlier rehabilitation, with faster return to daily living activities. Unicompartmental arthroplasty was developed over 40 years ago. It is a technically demanding surgery, with a long learning curve for orthopedic surgeons and implies a rigorous selection of patients. Over the past two decades, its popularity increased, related to the technical advances. Thus, unicompartmental arthroplasty currently represents a significant percentage of knee arthroplasties performed in developed countries. Meet the orthopedics team from Hospital da Luz and book your consultation . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
