What is

Unicompartmental Knee
Replacement (UKR)?

Also known as Uniknee, Partial knee replacement,Knee Hemiarthroplasty or Unicondylar knee replacement.

UKR simply means that only a part of the knee joint is replaced through a smaller incision than would normally be used for a total knee replacement. UKRs have been performed for decades and developments in implant design, instrumentation and surgical techniques have resulted in this approach being considered as the procedure of choice for unicompartmental arthritis.

What types of unicompartmental knee replacement are there?

In a unicompartmental knee replacement, only the damaged compartment is replaced with metal and plastic. The healthy cartilage and bone in the remainder of the knee are left alone.

The types of UKR are based on the part of the knee that is diseased and therefor replaced

Medial compartment

The inside of the knee, (Medial UKR)

Lateral compartment

The outside of the knee, and (Lateral UKR)

Patellofemoral compartment

The front of the knee between the kneecap and thighbone). (Patellofemoral UKR)

What are the
advantages of a UKR?

The benefits of a Unicondylar Knee Replacement over a total knee replacement (TKR) are:

Tissue preserving operation with less bone removal

Faster recovery

Smaller incision

Better range of movement

A more “natural” feeling knee

Minimal blood loss

What are the
advantages of a UKR?

Patient’s who are suitable for UKR are those who:

Only have disease in one part of the knee

Do not have severe deformity

Have a good range of motion of the knee

Have a stable knee

Do not have an inflammatory case for their arthritis

What happens
during a UKR?

The preoperative and post operative course is the same as for a Total Knee Replacement (TKR).

The surgery differs in that:

1
The surgery is a shorter duration
2
The incision and soft tissue trauma are less than a TKR
3
Preserving native ligaments and cartilage allows for a more natural knee feel and greater range of motion compared to TKR.
4
Special jigs are used to remove the diseased bone and cartilage and replace it with metal and plastic

Do you need a

Knee replacement?

Dr Seeto in affiliation with Medibank Private and East Sydney Private hospital, offers a program for eligible Medibank Private Members, to eliminate medical out of pocket costs for your Knee Replacement.

The program includes a pre-surgery preparation program, spending the minimal time necessary in hospital, as well as home rehabilitation if necessary.