Just as a total knee replacement resurfaces all of the weight-bearing surfaces of the knee, a partial knee replacement only resurfaces a specific weight-bearing surface that is damaged due to arthritis. Because there is less overall surgery, this can result in:
A more “normal” feeling knee
Faster recovery
Decreased blood loss
However, if the knee has signs of arthritis in more than one place, then just replacing part of the knee won’t address ALL of the arthritis. In this circumstance, total knee replacement would be a more successful option.
Other factors that may make partial knee replacement less successful are:
Poor bone quality
Alignment problems in the entire leg
Torn ligaments in the knee
Overall, partial knee replacement can be a very successful option for the right patient. It can result in excellent functional outcomes. Because this is a challenging operation indicated for a specific patient, please seek the advice of an experienced knee surgeon if you are considering this operation.
