✦ Targeted Joint Preservation

Partial Knee Replacement

Q: How is partial knee replacement different from total replacement?

Partial replacement resurfaces one compartment, leaving ligaments and healthy cartilage intact. Total replacement resurfaces all three compartments. Partial replacement is appropriate only when disease is genuinely isolated to a single area of the joint.

Q: How quickly can I return to activity after partial knee replacement?

Most patients are walking the same day or the morning after surgery. Return to daily routines takes 4–6 weeks. Many patients resume light recreational activities such as walking or cycling within 6–10 weeks of the procedure.

Q: Is partial knee replacement upgradeable to total replacement?

Yes. If arthritis later develops in other compartments, partial knee replacement can be converted to a total replacement. The revision is generally manageable and produces results comparable to a standard primary total knee replacement.

Q: How do I know whether I am a candidate for partial replacement?

Candidacy is determined by X-ray, MRI, and clinical examination to confirm the extent of the arthritis, the condition of the cruciate ligaments, and whether the deformity is correctible. Not everyone with knee arthritis qualifies for this procedure.

Only the diseased compartment of the knee is resurfaced while the healthy bone, cartilage, and ligaments are preserved — delivering a faster recovery and a more natural-feeling joint than full replacement.

45–75 min PROCEDURE

2–3 Days HOSPITAL STAY

>92% SUCCESS RATE

6-10 Weeks FULL RECOVERY

What is Partial Knee Replacement?

Partial knee replacement — technically known as unicompartmental knee arthroplasty — targets only the worn compartment of the knee, most often the medial (inner) side. The untouched compartments, cruciate ligaments, and surrounding soft tissues remain completely intact. This selective approach requires a smaller incision, causes less surgical disruption, and produces a knee that many patients describe as closer to natural compared to a total replacement. Dr. Sai Kishan performs partial knee replacement at Lux Hospitals for patients in whom thorough assessment confirms that the disease is genuinely confined to one compartment.

Appropriate for patients with confirmed single-compartment knee arthritis — predominantly the medial compartment — who have functioning cruciate ligaments, a reducible alignment deformity, and no significant disease in the remaining knee compartments.

How the Procedure Works

Anaesthesia & Setup

Spinal or general anaesthesia is administered; the knee is positioned and the operative field is prepared for a minimally invasive approach.

Limited Surgical Exposure

A smaller incision than total replacement exposes only the diseased compartment, preserving surrounding muscle attachments and tissue planes.

Compartment Resection

The worn femoral condyle and tibial plateau surfaces are precisely resected using guided cutting instruments calibrated to restore correct alignment.

Component Sizing & Fixation

Trial components confirm correct sizing, ligament balance, and movement before the final metal and polyethylene implants are secured in position.

Closure & Early Mobilisation

The wound is closed and the patient begins standing and walking — often on the day of surgery or the morning after.

Outcomes

45–75 minDURATION

2–3 DaysHOSPITAL STAY

>92%SUCCESS RATE

6–10 WeeksFULL RECOVERY

Who Needs This Treatment?

→Targets only the damaged area — all healthy joint structures are untouched
→Smaller incision, reduced blood loss, and less post-operative discomfort
→Most patients return to full activity within 6–10 weeks of surgery
→The preserved ligaments produce a more natural knee movement pattern
→If arthritis extends later, conversion to total replacement remains straightforward
→Preferred option for active, younger patients with isolated compartment disease

Partial knee replacement offers something total replacement cannot — preservation of the natural knee. For the right patient, it is a smaller operation that delivers an outstanding outcome and a quicker return to normal life.

— — Dr. Sai Kishan Sirasala, Knee and Hip Joint Replacement & Robotic Surgery

Common Questions

Frequently Asked

How is partial knee replacement different from total replacement?+

How quickly can I return to activity after partial knee replacement?+

Is partial knee replacement upgradeable to total replacement?+

How do I know whether I am a candidate for partial replacement?+

Not sure which treatment is right for you?

Book a consultation with Dr. Sai Kishan and get a personalised treatment plan.

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