What is a partial knee replacement?

A partial knee replacement is a type of knee arthroplasty (joint replacement). Your surgeon will replace the compartments (sections) of your knee joint that are damaged with prosthetic pieces. Most people need around six weeks to recover after a partial knee replacement, but you’ll be able to start moving and walking with assistance right away.

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.

• The medial compartment (the inside section).
• The lateral compartment (the outside section).
• The patellofemoral compartment (under your kneecap).

Surgeons perform partial knee replacements on the medial and lateral compartments.

• Joint pain.
• Stiffness.
• Limited mobility.
• 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.