...because living with pain isn't really living!

Uni Knee Replacement

Surgical Techniques -
Unicompartmental Knee Replacement

When only the inner (medial) side of the knee has worn down with advanced arthritis, this may be an opportunity to replace only this damaged compartment of the knee. This procedure is called a partial or unicompartmental knee replacement and is now a popular and scientifically supported method of resolving the arthritic pain of only the inner aspect of the knee.

Patients who qualify for this unique solution to their knee pain get a short 3" incision over the medial aspect of their knee, stay only overnight in the hospital and then go home for therapy. Most fit patients are walking with only a cane in just a few days to a week after surgery and are usually able to return to normal activities just a few weeks after surgery.

Oxford Unicompartmental Knee in Motion

The implants for this technique have greatly improved over the past 3 decades and there are many varieties of implants from which to choose for a partial knee replacement. Dr. Zehr has decided that the Oxford Unicompartmental Knee is the best for his patients. It is the only mobile bearing unicompartmental knee available in this country and as such offers greater flexibility than many of the other prosthetic options.In addition, the long term studies of the Oxford Knee indicate that in the correctly chosen patient, the longevity of this implant follows a similar survival curve of total knee implants.

The Oxford Knee has been available worldwide since 1980, but available in this country only since 2005. In order to become a qualified surgeon to implant the Oxford Knee a surgeon must be trained by the original Oxford knee surgeons. As such, Dr. Zehr spent time in Oxford, England learning the specifics and nuances of the unique prosthesis and has been using this unique implant since its arrival here.

Included below is a basic animation of the steps involved in unicompartmental knee replacement and an example of post-operative X-rays of the implants to provide some basic understanding of this complex procedure.