Partial Knee Resurfacing is an innovative procedure designed to provide quicker recovery and improved surgical outcome for patients with osteoarthritis in only one part of the knee. By selectively targeting the portion of the knee that has become damaged by osteoarthritis, we can isolate and resurface only the arthritic portion of the knee without compromising the healthy bone and tissue surrounding it.

Continuing with our approach to provide our patients with the best surgical options our preferred implant for partial knee replacement is the Oxford® Partial Knee implant from Biomet Orthopedics.

Uni-compartmental Osteoarthritis

In patients with only limited knee arthritis, known as medial compartment arthritis, we often elect to perform a partial knee replacement. Unlike total knee replacement that removes all the knee joint surfaces, a partial knee replacement replaces only one side of the knee joint.

Some advantages of a partial knee replacement are that it removes 75% less bone and cartilage, is less painful, enables a more rapid recovery, and provides more natural motion when compared to a total knee replacement. By retaining all of the undamaged parts, the joint may bend and function more naturally.

Benefits of a minimally invasive knee replacement include:

• only requires a 3-4 inch incision, compared to an 8-12 inch incision for total knee replacement.
• no disruption of the knee cap which allows speedy rehabilitation
• minimal blood loss
• reduced need for anesthesia and post-operative medication
• able to walk in 3 to 4 hours
• full recovery in 2 to 5 weeks

Perhaps the most attractive element of minimally invasive partial knee replacement is that of rapid patient recovery. On average, a partial knee replacement patient would require only one overnight stay at a hospital. Once discharged, Tower Orthopaedics surgeons will provide access to their state-of-the-art outpatient physical therapy facility in conjuction with providing a individualized, goal oriented rehabilitation program. In just 4 to 6 weeks patients can begin walking without the assistance walking aids.

Knee osteoarthritis usually occurs first in the medial (inside) portion of the joint. In knees that are otherwise healthy, a partial knee implant procedure can preserve the healthy bone, cartilage, and ligaments, potentially preventing or delaying the need for total knee replacement.

The Only One of Its Kind

The Oxford® Partial knee is currently the only fully mobile bearing partial knee system available in the United States.

Research has shown that partial knee replacements with moveable plastic bearings like the Oxford® Partial knee have low wear rates, potentially giving them even longer life expectancies.4

In a healthy knee, the meniscus serves as a shock absorber between the ends of the bones. The Oxford® Partial knee is the first partial implant with an artificial meniscal bearing designed to glide freely throughout the knee’s range of motion, more closely replicating normal movement. The free floating nature of the device potentially provides for a more natural feeling knee.

Long-term Durability

Published long-term clinical results on the Oxford® Knee demonstrated a 98% success rate at 10 years and 95% at 15 years and beyond, equaling the results of the most successful total knee replacements.