What Is the Difference Between a Partial and Full Knee Replacement?

Do you have persistent knee pain? Perhaps conservative treatments, including physical therapy, injections, and medications, haven’t helped enough. 

You may benefit from a knee replacement. If the damage isn’t too severe, you may be a candidate for a partial knee replacement rather than a full joint replacement. 

Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons with Peninsula Orthopedics perform many partial and full knee replacements. We let you know which type of surgery will likely provide you with the optimal outcome. 

Anatomy of your knee

Your knee is one of the most complex joints in your body. It’s divided into three discrete areas: medial (inside of the knee), lateral (outside of the knee), and patella (kneecap area). 

Your knee contains three bones (the thigh, shin, and patella). Cartilage and menisci are strong, fibrous tissues that cushion the bones. 

Because your knee must hold so much of your weight, it must be stable so it doesn’t slip from side to side when you walk or run. You have four ligaments — bands of strong tissue — supported by quadriceps and hamstring muscles, along with tendons — all of which work together to help keep your knee in the proper place. 

Partial knee replacement 

If only part of your knee needs repair, we may recommend a partial knee replacement, called a unicompartmental arthroplasty. A partial replacement repairs and replaces damaged bone and soft tissue in one of the three areas of your knee. 

This operation has some key advantages over a full knee replacement. You retain more bone and soft tissue than with a full joint replacement. Your surgery is less invasive with fewer incisions. You have less blood loss and less damage to the surrounding tissue. 

Modern technology offers more patients the option of a partial knee replacement than in previous decades. Robotic surgery helps us execute the operation with many times the precision of working manually with tools. 

Full knee replacement 

The majority of knee replacements involve the whole joint. If you have arthritis, you’re more likely to have it throughout your knee joint rather than only in one part.  

Factors involved in partial versus full knee replacement 

Following are some key differences between a partial and a full knee replacement. 

Time in hospital 

Your doctor will likely perform a partial knee replacement at an outpatient center. You go home the same day. A full knee replacement usually requires a hospital stay of up to three days. 

For both partial and full knee replacement, we use minimally invasive surgery when possible so your incisions are small, blood loss is minimal, and you sustain minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. 

Physical therapy 

You start physical therapy immediately after either operation. Our therapists show you how to get out of bed safely and go to the bathroom. You practice walking before we discharge you. 

Physical therapy for partial knee replacement may take about a month. For a full knee replacement, therapy usually lasts for three months from the day of your surgery. 

Recovery 

Initial recovery for a partial knee replacement takes about a month. 

Initial recovery for a full knee replacement varies between 6-12 weeks, depending on your age, overall health, strength, and motivation. It then takes six months to a year to regain normal strength. 

Our goal is to help you move freely and enjoy life again. Call us at Peninsula Orthopedics or request an appointment through our online portal today. We’re located in Daly City, California, with satellite offices in Menlo Park and Los Gatos.