Uni-compartmental Knee Arthroplasty (UNI)
Orthopaedic Faculty with this Specialization
Harold K. Dunn, M.D.
Christopher L. Peters, M.D.
Aaron A. Hofmann, M.D.
University Orthopaedic Resources:
Resources
After many years of activity and hard work, possibly a couple injuries, your knee can wear out. When x-rays confirm that the cartilage and meniscus (cushion in your knee) are thin and degenerative, the common diagnosis is Degenerative Joint Disease of the knee. If it only involves one side of your knee and the other parts of your knee are perfect, then you may be a candidate for a Uni - compartmental Knee Arthroplasty (UNI). This means that we can replace only one part of your knee, either medial (inside) or lateral (outside). The alternatives are to live with it, or possibly have the whole knee replaced, if that is an option your surgeon presents to you.
- Advantages of a UNI include: Relieving pain in the one area we replace
- Buying more time before we have to replace the whole knee
- More natural feeling knee, because you get to keep your ACL (a ligament needed for running and jumping)
- Easier to recover from (one day in the hospital and faster rehabilitating at home)
- Disadvantages can include: Partial pain relief
- Your knee may continue to wear out in the other parts that aren't replaced
- You may need another operation to replace all of the knee, this is a Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). If you are young enough to need this, its usually in an average of 7-10 years, but hopefully not earlier than 5 years.
Typically, you will have surgery and go home the next day from the hospital. You will have a physical therapist to do exercises with or they will teach you how to do them on your own. Stiffness is not as big of a problem as it can be when we replace the whole knee. Infection is always a concern whenever we put metal into someone's body. As long as you are up and active, blood clots in the leg are very rare.
You will be seen two weeks from surgery for your staples to be removed, then again at 6 weeks from surgery to see the surgeon and check x-rays. You'll be allowed to drive at 2-3 weeks from surgery, return to work when you feel ready, and stop using a cane when you can walk well without a limp. Full activities can be resumed at 6 weeks from surgery, as tolerated.
The information provided may be useful for patients to become more knowledgeable about their specific injury, surgery or condition. It is provided for informational purposes only, and does not replace the advice of a physician.
