Where in Dubai
Dr. Subhash Ushakoyala, Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon, assesses knees for partial replacement at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai. Bring any knee X-rays or MRI reports you already have, even from another clinic or from abroad. If a partial knee replacement suits you, he tells you at the consultation which hospital the operation will be in and what your insurance needs before a date is set.
What is partial knee replacement?
The knee has three parts, called compartments: the inner side, the outer side, and the area behind the kneecap. Osteoarthritis sometimes wears out only one of them, most often the inner side. In a partial knee replacement, also called a unicompartmental knee replacement, the surgeon resurfaces only that worn part with metal and a plastic insert. The healthy cartilage, bone and all the ligaments are kept. The cut is usually smaller than for a total knee replacement, and many people find the knee feels more like their own. It suits only knees where the wear is truly limited to one area.
Who it can help
- Pain felt mostly on the inner side, or mostly on the outer side, of the knee.
- X-rays that show the joint worn down on one side while the rest of the knee looks healthy.
- A knee that still bends well and has stable, intact ligaments.
- Pain that has not settled with painkillers, physiotherapy, weight loss or injections.
- People who want to keep as much of their own knee as is safely possible.
How Dr. Subhash approaches it
Dr. Subhash lists unicompartmental knee replacement on his CV alongside total knee replacement, and he trained in hip and knee replacement on a fellowship at Sunshine Hospitals in Secunderabad, India, in 2016. Not every knee is suitable, so he first checks where the pain sits, how far the knee bends and whether the ligaments are sound. If the wear is spread across the knee, he explains why a total replacement would serve you better. He also explains that the final choice is confirmed inside the knee during the operation.
What to expect
Consultation
He asks you to point to where the knee hurts, tests its movement and ligaments, and reviews standing X-rays. An MRI scan is sometimes needed to check the other compartments.
Deciding together
He explains whether a partial or a total replacement suits your knee, the risks of each, and the recovery. You decide.
A back-up plan agreed in advance
If the surgeon finds more wear inside the knee than the scans showed, a total replacement may be done instead. This is discussed and agreed with you before the day.
The operation
It usually takes one to two hours under a spinal or general anaesthetic. The worn surfaces are removed and replaced with metal parts and a plastic insert.
Going home
Many patients go home the same day or after one night. Walking starts straight away, with a frame, crutches or a stick for support at first.
Follow-up
He checks the wound, your walking and how far the knee bends at planned visits over the following months.
Recovery, in general terms
Every patient is different. These are typical milestones, not a promise; your own plan comes from your consultation.
- Putting weight on the leg from the day of surgery, with a walking aid at first.
- Less pain and swelling in the early weeks than after a total knee replacement, for most people.
- Most everyday activities by about six weeks.
- Daily exercises from a physiotherapist to bring back movement and strength.
Risks to know about
- Infection, which may need antibiotics or further surgery.
- Blood clots in the leg or lung; medicine and early walking lower this risk.
- Arthritis may later wear out another part of the knee, which can mean converting to a total knee replacement.
- Rarely, injury to a nerve or blood vessel around the knee.
When to book a visit
Book a visit if pain on one side of the knee is limiting your walking or sleep and treatment so far has not helped. After surgery, call the clinic the same day for a hot, red or leaking wound, a fever, or a swollen, painful calf.
Where to book
Dr. Subhash sees patients at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, in north-east Dubai. The clinic is at Shop No. 4, next to the Grand Excelsior Hotel.
Grand Infinity Medical Center
Shop No. 4, next to Grand Excelsior Hotel, Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
DirectionsCall +971 58 599 7460WhatsApp
Questions patients ask
Do Dubai insurance plans cover a partial knee replacement?
Many Dubai plans cover a knee replacement, partial or total, when it is medically needed, usually with pre-approval. The clinic can tell you what your own plan needs before the operation is booked.
What is the difference between a partial and a total knee replacement?
A total knee replacement resurfaces the whole joint. A partial replacement resurfaces only the worn compartment and keeps the healthy cartilage, bone and ligaments. A partial replacement suits only knees worn in one area.
Am I a candidate for a partial knee replacement?
You may be if your pain is mostly on one side of the knee, the knee still bends well, the ligaments are sound and the X-rays show wear in one area only. Pain across the whole knee or behind the kneecap usually points to a total replacement.
Can a partial knee replacement be changed to a total one later?
Yes. If arthritis later develops in another part of the knee, the partial replacement can be revised to a total knee replacement. This is the main drawback of a partial replacement.
How soon can I walk after a partial knee replacement?
Most patients put weight on the leg on the day of surgery, with a walking aid. Many manage everyday activities by about six weeks.
Book an appointment
His nurse answers the phone and WhatsApp.