In the operation of partial knee replacement, the diseased bone and tissue are removed and the remaining bone is shaped with the operating instruments to allow the components to fit exactly.
Operating on the joint comprises the following four steps:
Step 1
The surgeon makes an appropriate length incision down the front of the knee and flexes the joint. The surgeon removes the meniscus and any other structures that are impairing the normal movement of the joint and any possible osteophytes. Using the implant specific instruments supplied by the manufacturer of the prosthesis, the surgeon cuts and shapes the bone to the correct shape to match the internal geometry of the components to be implanted.
The knee joint is prepared for the prosthesis; the defect can be seen clearly.
Step 2
After the final cut has been made and all the holes drilled, a trial prosthesis is inserted. This allows the exact size and optimal position of the implant to be determined. This step is decisive for subsequent mobility and stability.
The femur and tibia are trimmed in such a way that the implant will fit exactly.
Step 3
The surgeon implants the components and fixes them with bone cement. It is a stable connection between the surface of the im- plant and the bone. The bone cement is very compatible and hardens fully in a few minutes.
The two individual components of the
partial knee replacement are put into place; the knee is once again fully functional.
Step 4
The surgeon sutures the joint layer by layer before applying a compression dressing.
X-ray check of the implant following a successful operation: the fit is optimal.
