Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (UKA): Effective Knee Solution with Quick Recovery

What Causes Knee Osteoarthritis?

Knee osteoarthritis occurs when bones become misaligned or cartilage wears down and deteriorates, causing the knee mechanism to fail. The knee cannot efficiently distribute weight-bearing forces, resulting in certain knee bone portions bearing more weight than normal and leading to knee osteoarthritis. 

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) or partial knee replacement is a surgical procedure to remove only the damaged or worn compartment of the knee, then substituting the deteriorated bone with an artificial knee joint. This can be performed on either the medial or lateral compartment. Therefore, for patients with primary knee osteoarthritis or those with the medial compartment affected only, an orthopedist will recommend UKA surgery to preserve the healthy bone structures. This eliminates the need for complete removal, reducing side effects and treatment risks.

Who Should Consider Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (UKA)?

All patients with knee osteoarthritis who, after X-ray examination, show complete cartilage loss with bone-on-bone contact, accompanied by painful symptoms affecting daily life, should consider UKA. Also, for those who underwent non-surgical treatments such as weight loss, thigh muscle strengthening exercises, and pain medication but the results were not satisfying, an orthopedist will recommend partial knee replacement (unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: UKA) to restore normal knee function.

Self-Care After Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (UKA)

• During the first 2 weeks post-surgery, look after for the surgical incision carefully. If bleeding occurs, visit the hospital for dressing changes.

• For the first 2 weeks, avoid getting the incision wet to reduce infection risk. 

• If experiencing pain around the incision, take pain medication for symptom relief.

• Perform ankle pumping exercises in mornings and evenings continuously. Stop if feeling excessive tightness.

• Wear compression stockings to reduce blood clot risk.

• Walk and exercise moderately—not too much that cause pain or too little that slow recovery.

• Exercise to strengthen thigh muscles.

How to Perform Physical Therapy After Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (UKA)?

Orthopedists recommend ankle pumping exercises in mornings and evenings as follows:

1. Have the patient lie supine, then place a pillow under the leg to elevate it slightly

2. Flex the ankle up and down slowly, alternating continuously

3. Perform it with 10-20 repetitions per session

4. Stop immediately if feeling tightness in the incision or foot area