"Save and use your own knee joints as you would naturally do it. Just a tiny puncture, almost painless, quick recovery."

What is Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (UKA)?

It's a procedure when only worn-out parts of knee joint surface are removed, keeping healthy parts of the knee joint surface intact, and replacing only the damaged parts by artificial joint surface. In the past, patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis would mostly undergo Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA), where they would find themselves having to sacrifice a part of the joint which was still intact, rendering them unable to use the knee joint naturally. They could not sit on the floor or on their heels, squat, assume meditation postures, as well as run or exercise. In case of Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty, the original knee joint can be used naturally.

Advantages of the treatment

• Size of incision is much smaller, and surgery is much less painful.
• Less blood loss due to surgery.
• Patient is able to walk much quicker compared to using other methods.
• Patient will be able to walk in 1-2 days after surgery and perform daily activities as usual within 3-4 weeks.
• Less side effects or possibility of complications.
• Existing tendons and intact knee joint surface are preserved.
• Patients are able to use the knee joints almost as if they would use them naturally, like sitting on the floor, on their heels, squatting, assuming meditation postures, as well as run or exercise.

Limitations

Even though UKA surgery is done by using small incision techniques advantageous in many aspects, it still has some limitations, such as:

• Surgery itself is more difficult to perform compared to other methods, it requires an expert surgeon.
• It’s not suitable for patients with highly affected knee joint.
• It might not be suitable for patients with severe cases of osteoporosis or high body mass.

In summary, for treatment of osteoarthritis by Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (UKA), patient must consult the physician as soon as it’s possible, before the condition of the knee joint becomes too severe, and surgery must be performed by an expert surgeon specializing in this method of treatment in particular.