Unicondylar-knee-replacement

Technique:

This surgery is done 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. In this procedure, Dr. Ahluwalia will make small incision over your knee about 3-5 inches long. The damaged bone is removed and replaced with an implant (prosthetic) that is made of plastic and metal.

What to Expect-Day of Surgery:

This is an inpatient surgery; the average stay in the hospital is 1-2 days. The procedure takes typically 2-3 hours, depending on the complexity. Usually general (or nerve block) anesthesia will be used.  Your anesthesiologist will discuss this with you prior to the surgery.

What to Expect-After Surgery:

After surgery, the patient may be given appropriate pain medications prescribed by Dr. Ahluwalia orally or intravenously to make you comfortable. You will be taken to the recovery room where you will stay for approximately 1-2 hours until stable and you will begin physical therapy typically the day of surgery if the surgery is early in the morning or the next day if the surgery is later in the day. You will follow up with Dr. Ahluwalia in 10-14 days after surgery. At that visit, further physical therapy and activity restrictions will be discussed.