Look Who it Was Random video

Picking a Partial Knee Patient

207 views · Published 1 March 2015 · 1:46 · Indexed 14 October 2026

Channel: Lee Health · 2015 · Science & Technology

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For years, total knee replacement trumped what’s called the partial knee. Replacing the entire joint was considered more reliable than removing a single section. Now for many people less is more. 

“The first thing is, you’re not taking things; the functioning cartilage either of the kneecap or either on the inside or outside part of the knee. The second is that it’s much less invasive. It can be done through a smaller incision,” says Dr. Fletcher Reynolds, who is an orthopedic surgeon on medical staff of Lee Memorial Health System. 

Picking a proper partial knee patient is crucial to its success. This surgery is not for everyone.

“We break the knee down into three separate areas. There’s an inside part of the knee, an outside part of the knee, and then the area where the kneecap and the femur come together. And those are kind of the three parts. If the arthritis is isolated to either the inside or the outside part of the knee then partial knee can be considered,” says Dr. Reynolds. 

Limited in size and scope, this surgery is also limited to a specific patient population: those with damage in only one of the three knee compartments. It’s becoming a popular choice for people who want to get rid of pain, but keep everything else.

“Their knee feels somewhat more natural because a lot of their knee is retained. Some of the ligaments that we sacrifice with knee replacement surgery are retained as well as the other cartilage surfaces,” says Dr. Reynolds. 

Many patients eventually need a total replacement if their knee continues to deteriorate. But this smaller surgery allows them to hang on to their joints for as long as possible. 

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Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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