Biomet Oxford UKA
Unicompartmental knee replacement is a surgery in which only the damaged compartment is replaced with metal and plastic. It is also called a partial knee replacement. This surgery is used to treat arthritis which is limited to one of the knee compartments. The knee can be divided into three compartments: patellofemoral, the compartment in the front of the knee between the knee cap and thigh bone; medial compartment, on the inside portion of the knee; and lateral compartment which is the area on the outside portion of the knee joint. Your doctor may recommend Unicompartmental knee replacement if your arthritis is confined to a single compartment of your knee.
The Oxford® partial knee implant is designed to replace only the medial side of the knee. Partial knee replacement is performed in patients with medial compartment arthritis. Unlike total knee replacement that removes all the knee joint surfaces, a partial knee replacement replaces only one side of the knee joint. Oxford® partial knee implant consists of metal surfaces on both bones and a low wearing polyethylene inserted between the two to glide freely throughout the knee’s range of motion.
In performing a total knee replacement, the anterior cruciate ligament is always removed and some cutting into the quadriceps tendon or muscle is needed. In performing an Oxford partial knee replacement, cutting into the quadriceps tendon or muscle is not required and the anterior cruciate ligament is preserved.
The benefits of an Oxford® partial knee replacement compared to a traditional total knee replacement are:
- Enables a more rapid recovery
- Minimally invasive – a small incision is used
- Short hospital stay
- Less pain
- Provides more natural motion
- Ambulatory aids such as walker, crutches and cane can be discontinued
- Provides a rapid return to normal activities
- Same quality results are obtained as that of total knee replacement
