What is Microplasty ?
What is Microplasty?
Knee pain is one of the top issues that exists for individuals as they get older, regardless of injury, arthritis, or anything that affects the knee-joint. For many patients, the pain is severe and debilitating, making mobility and normal daily activity difficult. While traditional treatments like total knee replacement surgery fail, microplasty has brought a revolution.
Whether you’ve been offered partial knee replacement surgery, or considering the total knee replacement, understanding the implications of microplasty is very helpful to make a well informed decision.
Understanding Microplasty
Microplasty is a unique technique that is attained in partial knee replacement surgery. Unlike a full knee replacement, which means replacing or resurfacing the entire knee joint, microplasty replaces the proportion of the knee-joint that is damaged, and allows for the knee where there is healthy bone, ligaments and tissue still intact. The procedure is also performed with minimally invasive surgery instruments and computer-assisted technology that provides the ability to be more accurate.
Because of its gentler nature, microplasty leads to smaller incisions, less blood loss, shorter recovery and a more natural movement in the knee afterwards. Patients for this type of surgery do significantly better than patients that receive other forms of knee surgery, with an easier time rehabilitation and returning to mobility.
Partial vs. Total Knee Replacement:
To understand the significance of microplasty, it’s important to understand the difference between partial and total knee replacement:
Total Knee Replacement Surgery (TKR) : In total replacement surgery, the surgeon removes the entire knee joint and replaces it with an artificial replacement structure. Total knee replacement is used when the entire knee suffers from arthritis or damage. The procedure is effective; however, the recovery takes longer than microplasty. One other consideration is a total replacement may alter the natural movement of the joint.
Partial Knee Replacement Surgery (Microplasty) : This surgical procedure requires the surgeon to remove only the diseased compartment of the knee replacement. Patients receiving this replacement procedure will have more of a natural range of motion and feel. Microplasty is often the surgery of choice for localized arthritis, or damage that is found in one compartment of the knee.
Advantages of Microplasty
Patients needing microplasty, when done by an experienced surgeon, experience important advantages:
- Less invasive means smaller incision and smaller scar usually leads to a smoother recovery
- More rapid rehabilitation, meaning many patients have an earlier return to normal activities than total knee replacement
- Natural knee movements because the ligaments and healthy parts of the bones are preserved
- Less risk of complications due to less blood loss and shorter time in hospital reducing overall risk
- Long-term results when a surgeon performs the procedure with accurate technique, the implants will last, and decrease pain
Who could benefit from Microplasty Surgery?
The most common reason for microplasty knee surgery is single-compartmental knee damage from advanced osteoarthritis–significant wear and tear on the knee joint. The cartilage is what acts as a shock absorber within the joints and is damaged in knee osteoarthritis patients. The cartilage wears out and causes joint movements to become less smooth. This can lead to stiffness and pain as the bones rub against one another. After a series of nonsurgical treatments have failed to relieve pain or discomfort, a knee replacement can be considered. Knee replacement’s goal is to stabilize and make your knee movements painless.
Total knee replacement is not a common procedure. However, patients with arthritic damage to only one part of the knee or compartment may be able to have microplasty knee surgery. Medial (inner part of the knee) and lateral (outer part of the knee) are the medical terms used to describe the various compartments. Patellofemoral is where the thigh bone meets the kneecap.
Partial knee replacement (or unicompartmental, or arthroplasty), has the advantage of preserving healthy cartilage, bone, and ligaments in the affected parts of the knee. This is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a smaller incision than an open-knee replacement. There is always the possibility of additional wear to the other side of a half-knee procedure, which is often the medial side. This would mean that the entire knee joint needs to be replaced in another procedure.
Who is Suitable for Microplasty?
Not all patients with knee pain are candidates for microplasty. A complete diagnosis by an expert is necessary to assess eligibility for the partial knee replacement surgery.
The procedure is best suited for patients whose:
- Arthritis is isolated to one compartment of the knee.
- Have a good range of motion and stable ligaments.
- The rest of the joint demonstrates minimal deformity or damage.
- They want a quicker recovery and less invasive treatment.
Life After Microplasty
The recovery from microplasty is usually much faster than traditional approaches. Many patients start walking within a day or two of their surgery and physiotherapy is crucial in regaining strength and movement. In a few weeks time, most people can return to their normal routine with much less pain and an improved quality of life.
Long-term outcomes have also been encouraging. Many patients report high levels of satisfaction, improved function, and natural mobility years after microplasty leading to a new life for people with knee conditions.
Microplasty : Future of Knee Replacement
Microplasty shows the future of knee replacement surgery. It represents a big departure from traditional knee replacement surgery where less healthy tissue is removed with a smaller incision. As a result, patients have an easier, safer and more natural option that replaces their lost functions. Whether you are considering a partial knee replacement surgery or alternatives to total knee replacement surgery, the best orthopedic doctor in Surat can help explain microplasty and if it is an appropriate measure for you.
