Partial Knee Replacement
In many knees, arthritis is confined to one side of the joint, usually the inner side. A partial knee replacement resurfaces that part alone. The rest of the knee, including both cruciate ligaments, is left exactly as it was.
The incision is shorter, blood loss is lower, and recovery is quicker than after a total knee replacement. For the right knee, it is the smaller operation with the more natural result.
Who it helps
Osteoarthritis limited to one compartment of the knee, with the other surfaces still healthy. Ligaments that are intact, and a knee that still bends and straightens well. Active patients who want to return to sport and travel.
The approach
Through a short incision, the worn surfaces of one compartment are removed and a small implant is fitted. Bone, cartilage, and ligaments elsewhere are untouched. Because the knee keeps its own ligaments, it bends deeply and feels closer to a natural knee than a full replacement can.
Recovery
Most patients walk on the day of surgery and go home within a day or two. Walking, cycling, golf, and swimming return sooner than after a total replacement. Should arthritis spread later, a partial replacement can be converted to a total one.
Common questions
Am I a candidate?
Many patients with knee arthritis are. It depends on where the wear is, whether the ligaments are sound, and how well the knee moves. An examination and standing X-rays settle it, and Dr. Nighot will tell you plainly which operation fits your knee.
Does it last as long as a total knee replacement?
In the right knee, a partial replacement lasts well and is more likely to feel natural. Registries show a slightly higher rate of further surgery than for total replacements, mostly from arthritis appearing in the parts of the knee that were kept. Careful selection keeps that risk low.
Can I kneel and sit cross-legged afterwards?
Most patients can. A partial knee keeps your ligaments, so deep bending is usually regained, and many patients kneel and sit cross-legged comfortably. Dr. Nighot will guide you on what suits your knee.
Other procedures
Total Knee Replacement · Total Hip Replacement · Joint Preservation