Knee pain can be a debilitating condition, and is one of the most common complaints of Americans suffering from musculoskeletal conditions. Often times, knee pain can significantly compromise a patient’s quality of life and keep you from doing everyday tasks. Activities that used to seem simple, such as gardening, biking, or jogging, now cause sharp pains and make life uncomfortable. If conservative treatments have failed to alleviate knee pain, a partial knee replacemen procedure may be the solution.
Dr. Robert Haar performsminimally invasive partial knee replacement as an outpatient procedure in an in-office fully accredited ambulatory facility. This facility allows Dr. Haar to perform orthopaedic surgery and sports injury procedures in-house, allowing the patient to return to his or her maximum level of activity in a shorter amount of time with the greatest amount of convenience.
Arthritis is the leading cause of knee pain, as well as one of the most common complaints of individuals suffering from musculoskeletal conditions. One in five Americans is estimated to have some form of arthritis, with osteoarthritis being the most common. While osteoarthritis tends to affect more individuals later in life, it does not only affect the elderly; two thirds of arthritis diagnoses are in individuals under the age of 65.
Other causes of knee pain beyond arthritis include ligament ruptures, such as ACL tears and meniscus tears. These sports injuries can often be repaired through minimally invasive means in Dr. Haar’s outpatient surgical facility.
Partial knee replacement is most commonly indicated for patients suffering from osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint condition also known as “wear-and-tear arthritis.” When a patient develops osteoarthritis of the knee, the articular cartilage that acts as a cushion to the patellofemoral joint wears away, causing bone to rub against bone with excess friction. The cartilage that once made joint movement easy and pain-free is now gone, leaving a rough surface that makes walking and moving very painful
As opposed to a total knee replacement, in which the entire joint is removed and replaced with a prosthetic, a partial knee replacement involves removing only the affected compartment. Because of this, partial knee replacement is also referred to as “unicompartmental knee surgery.” This minimally invasive procedure includes benefits such as smaller incision, shorter recovery time, and less scarring when compared to total knee replacement. Partial knee replacement for osteoarthritis patients is only possible if the joint degeneration is confined to a limited area within the knee.
As individuals age, the articular cartilage in the joints naturally deteriorates. Thus, age is considered to be a significant factor in the development of osteoarthritis. Obesity is another important indicator, as excess weight puts unnecessary stress on the knee joints. Other contributing factors to developing osteoarthritis of the knee include previous traumatic injuries, as well as a genetic disposition to osteoarthritis.
If conservative treatments such as corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or physical therapy, have failed to alleviate your chronic knee pain, make an appointment at Haar Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Clinic to evaluate your condition. Dr. Haar’s office is conveniently located on 88th Street on the Upper East Side
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