Partial Knee Replacement
A partial knee replacement is surgery to replace part of your knee joint. It’s a type of procedure called an arthroplasty (joint replacement).
A surgeon will remove damaged sections of your knee joint and replace them with an artificial joint (a prosthesis) made of metal and plastic.
There are three compartments in your knee joint:
- The medial compartment (the inside section).
- The lateral compartment (the outside section).
- The patellofemoral compartment (the area under your kneecap — your patella).
Surgeons perform partial knee replacements on the medial and lateral compartments.
What conditions are treated with a partial knee replacement?
Arthritis is the most common condition that causes people to need partial knee replacement surgery. Most people who choose to have a partial knee replacement have osteoarthritis. A healthcare provider might recommend a partial knee replacement if you have severe symptoms that don’t get better after trying nonsurgical treatments, including:
- Joint pain
- Stiffness
- Limited mobility (trouble moving your knee)
- Swelling
How common is partial knee replacement surgery?
Knee replacements as a whole are one of the most common types of arthroplasties. Surgeons in the U.S. perform more than 850,000 knee replacements each year.
Total knee replacements are more common than partial knee replacements because most people with knee arthritis have it in all three knee compartments at once.
What are the benefits of a partial knee replacement?
Partial knee replacement is a safe, effective way to relieve long-term symptoms like pain and stiffness. People who have partial knee replacements usually regain mobility and have an increased quality of life.
Partial knee replacements also usually have a much faster recovery time than total knee replacements.
How long does a partial knee replacement last?
Many people who have a partial knee replacement live with their prosthetic pieces for a long time (usually 10 years or longer).
Some people who have a partial knee replacement may need a total knee replacement in the future if arthritis starts affecting their other knee compartments.
What are potential complications?
Some people who have partial knee replacement surgery still experience pain and other symptoms in their knees. Rare complications include:
- Blood clots
- Infection inside your knee or at your surgery site
- Nerve damage
- Blood vessel damage
- Problems with the prosthetic implants, including the device wearing down too soon or loosening
- Scar tissue inside your knee
- Reduced range of motion (how far you can move your knee) and stiffness
Certain health conditions can make recovering from a partial knee replacement more difficult. Talk to your surgeon about your health history. Tell them if you have:
- Hemophilia
- Diabetes
- Other autoimmune diseases (like lupus)
Your surgeon will tell you what you can expect after your surgery and how you can reduce your chances of experiencing complications.
