In what is probably the first-of-its-kind surgery in the country, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here conducted a fast-track unicondylar knee replacement surgery using computer navigation.
Professor (Dr.) Rajesh Malhotra, Head of Department (Orthopaedics) at AIIMS, conducted the surgery on Friday. He said: “The knee is made up of three compartments – the medial, lateral and patellofemoral compartment. The unicondylar knee replacement procedure was developed to address osteoarthritis, which is specific to the medial or inner compartment of the knee. It leaves the healthy compartments preserved and treats only the unhealthy compartments of the knee.”
The doctor added that the process involves minimal bone resection, which allows for a less painful recovery.
If you have osteoarthritis in only one compartment of the knee, it is advisable to consult your orthopaedic surgeon and check if this partial knee replacement is better rather than undergoing total knee replacement, he explained.
The unicondylar knee system replicates the anatomy of the knee and retains natural motion.
