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| Unicompartmental Joint Replacement |
| This procedure replaces the worn cartilage in just one compartment of the knee with metal and/or plastic, leaving the remainder of the knee intact. It is less invasive than a total knee replacement with a shorter recovery time, but requires a stable knee with minimal arthritis in the neighboring compartments. |
| Patellofemoral Knee Replacement |
| Similar to a unicompartmental knee replacement, the patellofemoral knee replacement replaces only the worn articular surface underneath the patella and its articulating trochlear surface. It is indicated for those patients with isolated patellofemoral arthritis after failure of more conservative treatment options. |
| Total Joint Replacement |
| If there is extensive damage which precludes the use of the above procedures, then the entire knee joint surface is replaced with metal and plastic components. In this technique, the femoral condyles, tibial plateau and patellofemoral cartilage surfaces are all resurfaced. A total knee replacement typically results in significant pain relief, and increased mobility and function for many years. |
| Computerized “Navigational” Knee Replacement |
| Computer assisted total knee replacement is a technique being performed regionally only at the WNYCRC. Each cut in the bone during a total knee replacement is checked using infrared beams and a computer. |
| The end result is a knee replacement with perfectly placed components for optimal patient results and function. In the future, all our knee replacements will be computer assisted, but now it is only offered at certain hospitals, and only by the orthopaedic surgeons at the WNYCRC. |
