Preservation Knee System


Mercer – Bucks Orthopaedics Compassionate & Comprehensive Patient Care

Knee Replacement

Preservation™ Uni-compartmental Knee System

What Is Uni-compartmental Knee Replacement?

Many cases of advanced osteoarthritis of the knee lead to total knee replacement, a complete resurfacing of the articular surfaces in the knee. The articular surfaces are the parts of the knee that move against each other as you move. However, people with knee arthritis may have only part of their knee affected by this disease. For these people, knee replacement with the Preservation™ Uni-compartmental Knee may offer the opportunity to have a partial resurfacing using less invasive reconstructive techniques. This procedure is also referred to as minimally invasive.

When the cartilage in one of the three knee compartments has become damaged to the point where conservative treatment no longer eliminates the pain of activity limiting arthritis, then uni-compartmental knee replacement may be considered by you and your orthopaedic surgeon. To determine if an individual is a candidate for this treatment option, an orthopaedic surgeon trained in uni-compartmental knee replacement must conduct a physical examination and medical history profile of the patient. For the appropriate patient, this procedure leaves two-thirds of the normal knee intact and may result in a reduced period of postoperative pain. See your orthopaedic surgeon for advice on this reconstructive option.

What Is the History of Uni-compartmental Knee Replacement?

Uni-compartmental knee replacement or partial knee replacement is not a new procedure. The first partial knee replacements were performed in the early 1970's, but in very limited numbers. As the success of total knee replacement improved, many surgeons elected to use total knee replacement as the treatment of choice. However, orthopaedic surgeons have worked with implant manufacturers to evolve uni-compartmental knee implant designs and surgical instruments to create a reliable reconstruction in a single compartment of the knee. These advances in reconstructive technology have increased acceptance of uni-compartmental knee replacement by orthopaedic surgeons caring for patients seeking relief from activity limiting arthritis. This, combined with refinements in proper patient selection, has made uni-compartmental knee replacement a viable alternative for appropriate patients.

How Does the p.f.c. Sigma Knee System Work?

First, let's talk about the knee itself. It's the largest joint in the human body and among the most important to our daily lives. The knee is involved in virtually everything we do from walking to getting up from a chair to driving.

Your knee consists of the curved lower end of the thighbone (femur), which rotates on the curved upper end of the shinbone (tibia), and the kneecap (patella), which slides in a groove on the end of the thighbone. Thigh muscles give your knee strength, and large ligaments hold the thighbone and shinbone together. In total knee replacement surgery, injured or damaged parts of your knee joint are replaced with artificial parts designed to replicate the structure of your knee.

How Long Might a PRESERVATION Uni-compartmental Knee Replacement Last?

The longevity of the PRESERVATION Uni-compartmental Knee is dependent on the patient's activity level, weight, and age. Since a uni-compartmental reconstruction retains much of the patient's natural knee, it can be converted to a total knee replacement in the future if needed.

How Do I find Out If a Uni-Compartmental Knee Replacement is Right for Me?

An appropriate diagnosis from an orthopaedic surgeon trained in all the treatment options for knee arthritis can perform an appropriate history and physical examination to determine which treatment option is best for a patient's current condition. See your MBO Specialist to learn more.

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