An artificial joint designed to replace part of a damaged knee. The normal knee joint has 3 compartments and each one of these can be replaced depending on involvement of knee by disease.

• Medial uni-compartmental
• Lateral uni-compartmental
• Patello-femoral

This surgery is performed on individuals who have severe pain in knee due to a painful worn knee joint, where symptoms have failed to respond to non-operative treatments such as pain-killers and physiotherapy.

As with other surgical procedures this too has some risk but partial Knee replacement surgery is a very successful pain-relieving and function-restoring operation in approximately 99% of cases with minimal risk and faster rehabilitation.

After initial assessment which includes blood tests, blood pressure measurement and x-rays. You will usually be admitted a day prior to surgery and be fasting for 6 hours prior to the operation. The anaesthetist will guide you about the anaesthetic which may involve a spinal and/or general anaesthesia. During surgery an incision will be made down the middle of the knee which will be covered by a dressing and a bandage at the end of the procedure. There is a much shorter scar for medial and lateral uni-compartmental replacements.

Most patients will be able to leave at 6 or 7 days.

You will usually be able to bear full weight through the leg. The physiotherapists will help you to understand and to walk with the help of a frame if need be. They will ensure that you are able to mobilize adequately and get up and down stairs before you are discharged and will train you for toilet activity as well. Supervised physiotherapy will also continue for several sessions at your home. Your skin staples will need to be removed about 14 days following the operation.

This depends on the nature of your work. In general, you will be able to drive for six weeks following the operation. Most people would probably require a similar time off work. However, working from home would be possible after a couple of weeks.

Please contact us if you have any other questions about this or any other procedure.