A partial knee arthroplasty replaces part of the knee joint with an implant.
Page updated July 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
What is a knee compartment?
In a partial knee arthroplasty, or partial knee replacement, metal and plastic replace one or more of these compartments. If a single compartment is replaced, it may be referred to as a unicompartmental arthroplasty.
Indications for partial knee arthroplasty
Partial knee arthroplasty in indicated in the younger patient when damage or disease affects only one compartment, and the others are still healthy.
By restoring the anatomy of the damaged are, the patient may be spared progression of the damage to the other parts of the knee.
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Quote from peer-reviewed paper:
"....traditional indications for UKA include degenerative arthritis of the knee affecting one compartment, >60 years of age, body weight <82 kg (180 lb), low-demand for activities, range of motion ≥90°, flexion contracture ≤5°, angular deformity <15°, and absence of symptoms and signs of inflammatory arthritis....."
Citation: Kim KT. Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty. Knee Surg Relat Res. 2018 Mar 1;30(1):1-2. doi: 10.5792/ksrr.18.014. PMID: 29482300; PMCID: PMC5853177.
Forum discussions
- Caroline's own Oxford unicompartmental knee replacement update thread
A patient takes us through her partial knee arthroplasty journey.
Also relevant -
eBook - Knee arthritis interventions when you are too young for a total knee replacement
Easy-to-follow eBook about what is available if you have knee arthritis and are too young for a knee replacement.