A partial knee replacement (or unicompartmental knee replacement) replaces one region (compartment) of the knee with a metal and plastic implant.

Page updated July 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

partial knee replacement

Tibiofemoral partial knee replacement, replacing one compartment of the joint.

hemicap patellofemoral replacement

Hemicap patellofemoral replacement from the front.

hemicap patellofemoral replacement

Hemicap patellofemoral replacement from the side

 

 

Knee replacement and the concept of 'compartments'

Where the bones articulate in the knee is called a 'compartment' - the two articulations of tibia and femur are called the medial and lateral compartments, while the articulation of patella and femur are called the patellofemoral compartment.

Replacing the joint of any of these compartments is called a 'partial' or 'uni-compartmental' knee replacement.

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What is a partial knee replacement?

A partial knee replacement is the replacement of only one articulation of the knee joint with components manufactured from metal and plastic.

It may also be called a unicompartmental knee replacement. This may be one or other of the two tibiofemoral joints (joint involving tibia and femur bones) or the single patellofemoral joint (between kneecap and femur bone).

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Tibiofemoral replacement

partial knee replacement

This is an X-ray showing a tibiofemoral partial knee replacement. The metal shows up as white, and the gap between the two metalllic bits is the plastic spacer (which does not show up on X-ray).

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Patellofemoral replacement

The patellofemoral replacement procedure may also be called a 'resurfacing'.

A metal component replaces the damaged trochlear groove of the femur, and a plastic button replaces the rear patellar surface which is cut away to accommodate the implant.

patellofemoral replacement with hemicap

The trochlear implant is comprised of metal and shows up as white. The plastic patellar component is showing only as a space between the trochlear implant and the remainder of the patella.

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What are the indications for partial knee replacement?

Surgeons usually choose a partial over a total knee replacement when the damage to the joint cartilage is limited to one compartment (articulation), and when the rest of the joint is still in relatively good condition.

Also the alignment of the limb should be good with frontal deformity of less than 15° and flexion contracture of less than 15°.  The ligaments are the knee need to be uncompromised, especially the anterior cruciate ligament, and there should be no acute inflammatory process going on inside the knee. Finally, patients in general should be chosen from the middle-aged group, who would normally be considered too young for a knee replacement.

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Complications of unicompartmental arthroplasty

Complications may include:


Update on unicompartmental knee arthroplasty Vasso M, Antoniadis A and Helmy N. EFORT open reviews vol. 3,8 442-448.

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Synonyms: 
Unicompartmental knee replacement
Unicompartmental arthroplasty
Partial knee arthroplasty
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Dr Sheila Strover (Editor)
BSc (Hons), MB BCh, MBA

See biography...


Relevant material -


man reading book

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.


man reading book

eBook - Indications for a partial knee replacement

Easy-to-follow eBook discussing when a partial knee replacement might be chosen over a total knee replacement.