Partial Knee Replacement
Partial knee replacement in Thane replaces only the worn part of your knee, so you keep your healthy cartilage and your own ligaments, and usually recover faster.
At a Glance
Pending Medical Review
- Who It's For
- Arthritis limited to one part of the knee, most often the inner side
- Anaesthesia
- Spinal anaesthesia, often with a nerve block
- Hospital Stay
- Often 1 to 3 days
- Walking Again
- With a walker on the day of surgery or the next day
- Full Recovery
- Most daily activities within 4 to 6 weeks
Typical figures. Your own plan depends on your health, age and the joint involved.
What Is Partial Knee Replacement?
Partial knee replacement is an operation in which only the damaged part of the knee is replaced with an implant. It is also called a unicompartmental knee replacement, because it treats one compartment of the knee.
The knee can be divided into three compartments:
- The medial compartment, on the inner side of the knee. This is where arthritis most often starts.
- The lateral compartment, on the outer side of the knee.
- The patellofemoral compartment, at the front of the knee, between the kneecap and the thighbone.
If arthritis has worn away the cartilage in only one of these areas, there may be no need to replace the whole joint. A partial replacement resurfaces just the worn part with a small metal and plastic implant, and leaves the healthy cartilage, bone and ligaments in the rest of the knee untouched. Because so much of your own knee is kept, many people say it feels more like a natural knee.
Is This Right for Me?
Traditionally, total knee replacement was used for all severe osteoarthritis of the knee. A partial replacement is a surgical option if your arthritis is confined to a single compartment. It may suit you if:
- Your pain is mainly on one side of the knee, often the inner side
- X-rays show that the wear is limited to one part of the joint
- Your ligaments are healthy and the knee feels stable
- Your knee still bends and straightens reasonably well
- Medicines, injections and physiotherapy no longer give you enough relief
Not sure? Book a consultation to have it checked.
A partial replacement is usually not suitable if arthritis affects more than one part of the knee, if the knee is very stiff or badly bent, or if you have an inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis. In these cases a total knee replacement gives a more reliable result.
Partial or Total: How They Compare
The advantages of a partial knee replacement over a total knee replacement include:
- A smaller incision
- Less blood loss
- A quicker recovery and a shorter hospital stay
- Less pain after the operation
- Better overall range of motion
- A knee that feels more like your own
There are trade-offs too. Because the rest of the knee is your own, arthritis can later develop in another part of the joint. If that happens, the partial replacement can be changed to a total replacement in a planned operation. A partial replacement also needs careful patient selection and precise surgical technique, which is why the decision is made only after a full examination and good X-rays.
Dr. Gadkari’s Approach
Not everyone with knee pain needs an operation, and not everyone who needs one needs a total replacement. Dr. Gadkari examines the knee, checks the ligaments, and studies standing X-rays to see exactly where the cartilage has worn.
If the arthritis is truly limited to one part of the knee, he will discuss whether a partial replacement suits your age, activity level and expectations. If it is not, he will explain why a total replacement is the better choice for you.
Understand Your Diagnosis
He goes through your X-rays and scans with you, so you know exactly what is wrong and why.
Try Non-Surgical Care
Medicines, physiotherapy, weight and activity changes come first, for as long as they help.
Operate When It Helps
Surgery is advised only when it will clearly improve your pain and daily life.
The Surgery, Step by Step
Getting Ready
Blood tests, an ECG and a fitness check by a physician, just as for any knee operation.
Anaesthesia
Usually spinal anaesthesia, which numbs you from the waist down, often with a nerve block to keep the knee comfortable afterwards.
Checking the Knee
Through a smaller cut than a total replacement needs, the surgeon looks inside the knee to confirm that the other compartments and the ligaments are healthy.
Resurfacing the Worn Part
The damaged cartilage and a thin layer of bone are removed from the worn compartment only, and a metal and plastic implant is fixed in place.
Testing and Closing
The knee is moved through its full range to check the fit and balance, local anaesthetic is injected around it, and the wound is closed.
Moving Early
Most people stand and walk with a walker on the day of surgery or the next morning.
Your Recovery Timeline
Day 0 to 1
Standing and walking with a walker, with your physiotherapist.
Days 1 to 3
Home from hospital once you walk safely and can manage stairs.
Weeks 2 to 3
Stitches removed. Many people move from a walker to a stick.
Weeks 4 to 6
Most daily activities, short walks and driving, once your surgeon agrees.
3 Months
The knee feels more natural, with strength and stamina still building.
Typical milestones. Everyone heals at a different pace, and your physiotherapist will adjust the plan to you.
Common Worries, Answered
Is partial knee replacement a minimally invasive operation?
It uses a smaller incision and disturbs less of the knee than a total replacement, which is why it is often described as minimally invasive. What matters most for the result is careful patient selection and accurate placement of the implant, not the size of the cut.
Will I need another operation later?
Many people never do. If arthritis later develops in another part of the knee, the partial replacement can be converted to a total knee replacement.
Can I squat or use an Indian toilet afterwards?
As with any knee replacement, deep squatting and Indian-style toilets put heavy, repeated stress on the implant, and a fall in the early months could cause a fracture. A western toilet or a raised seat is safer. Dr. Gadkari will advise you on floor sitting once your knee has recovered.
Risks Explained Plainly
Partial knee replacement carries the same kinds of risk as other knee surgery, usually at a lower level because the operation is smaller:
- Infection in the wound or around the implant, which is uncommon.
- Blood clots in the leg veins, reduced by walking early and by blood-thinning medicines.
- Persistent pain or stiffness in a small number of people.
- Arthritis in another part of the knee over time, which may need conversion to a total replacement.
- Wear or loosening of the implant after many years.
Dr. Gadkari will explain how these apply to you before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know whether I need a partial or a total knee replacement?
It depends on where the damage is. If X-rays and examination show that arthritis is limited to one part of the knee and your ligaments are healthy, a partial replacement may be possible. If the wear is spread across the knee, a total replacement gives a more reliable result.
Can a partial knee replacement be changed to a total later?
Yes. If arthritis later develops in another part of the knee, a partial replacement can be converted to a total knee replacement. This is a planned operation and usually goes well.
How long does a joint replacement last?
Modern knee and hip replacements last many years. Most are still working well 15 to 20 years after surgery, and many last longer. Keeping a healthy weight and staying active with low-impact exercise such as walking, cycling and swimming helps them last.
Is joint replacement covered by health insurance?
Most health insurance policies in India cover joint replacement when it is medically needed. Check your policy for waiting periods, room-rent limits and any co-payment. The hospital's insurance desk can usually arrange cashless approval before you are admitted.
Book a Consultation
Talk to Dr. Gadkari about partial knee replacement. Message the clinic on WhatsApp or call, and they will find a time and place that suits you.
Pending Medical Review: Dr. Gadkari has not yet approved this page.