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Partial knee replacement surgery
- No.1 in London for private orthopaedic care*
- 97% of orthopaedic patients rate our care ‘very good’ or ‘excellent'
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PARTIAL KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
At HCA UK, you’ll get personalised, one-on-one care for your knee condition and be treated by some of the UK’s most trusted knee specialists. Our skilled consultants use using state-of-the-art imaging technology to diagnose your condition, so they can devise an effective treatment plan and get you back to better mobility.
It’s why 97% of our orthopaedic patients say they’d recommend us and why we have a higher proportion of 'Outstanding' ratings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) than any other private healthcare group in the UK.
It’s why 97% of our orthopaedic patients say they’d recommend us and why we have a higher proportion of 'Outstanding' ratings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) than any other private healthcare group in the UK.
Partial knee replacement surgery, sometimes called unicompartmental knee surgery, is a procedure that replaces a damaged part of your knee with an artificial implant.
The aim of the surgery is to reduce pain and improve your mobility and it’s an effective treatment if advanced osteoarthritis has severely damaged the bones and cartilage in a single compartment of your knee joint. When that damage is limited to one area, partial replacement is a better option than total knee replacement because it has a reduced physical impact and you’ll recover faster.
The aim of the surgery is to reduce pain and improve your mobility and it’s an effective treatment if advanced osteoarthritis has severely damaged the bones and cartilage in a single compartment of your knee joint. When that damage is limited to one area, partial replacement is a better option than total knee replacement because it has a reduced physical impact and you’ll recover faster.
A partial knee replacement may be effective if your osteoarthritis only affects one compartment in your knee joint. Patients recommended for this surgery are usually affected in their inside compartment (medial knee arthritis) or sometimes in their outside compartment (lateral knee arthritis).
Today’s partial knee replacements last up to twenty years, so they’re no longer reserved for older patients and can be effective for younger, more active people. The procedure preserves more of your knee joint, but you may still need more surgery in the future.
Not everyone is suitable for a partial knee replacement, and it won’t be recommended if:
Today’s partial knee replacements last up to twenty years, so they’re no longer reserved for older patients and can be effective for younger, more active people. The procedure preserves more of your knee joint, but you may still need more surgery in the future.
Not everyone is suitable for a partial knee replacement, and it won’t be recommended if:
- Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is damaged, because the artificial joint won’t work properly without a working ACL to support it
- Your BMI is greater than 40, because your weight increases the chances of infection and blood loss and may affect your surgery outcome and recovery time
- Ligament weakness has made your knee very stiff, or misaligned, because the tissue around your knee might not be strong enough to hold the artificial implant
- You have rheumatoid arthritis, because the inflammation usually affects your whole knee joint, or if more than one part of your knee is damaged by another condition or injury
If osteoarthritis has severely damaged one part of your knee, it can cause significant pain. If you’re struggling to walk, the pain’s keeping you awake at night or you’ve tried other treatments and they’ve not been effective, partial knee replacement may be an option for you.
If the damage to your knee is limited to one compartment of your knee joint, it can be an effective way to relieve your pain and increase your mobility. However, it doesn’t mean that other parts of your knee joint won’t develop problems, or that no further surgery will ever be required.
No.1
in London for private orthopaedic care
10
specialist orthopaedic fields offering personalised treatment
97%
of our patients are likely to recommend us to family and friends
Fast access to specialists
appointments bookable online or by phone
Expert orthopaedic treatments
from specialist knee consultants
State-of-the-art diagnostics
with results in as little as 48 hours
YOUR PARTIAL KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY
What to expect
Our consultants and multi-disciplinary teams are here to make sure you receive a fast and accurate diagnosis and get on a personalised treatment pathway. Their expert guidance and support will help on your journey to becoming more active and your knee being pain-free again.
01
Initial consultation
You’ll have an initial consultation with a GP who’ll want to know all about your medical history and the specific issues with your knee. That will include asking you about any previous treatments you’ve had, your pain levels, mobility and any other symptoms you’re experiencing. They’ll always explore the possible benefits of non-surgical options such as physiotherapy, pain medication and steroid injections before suggesting surgery.
02
Investigations and diagnosis
Once you’ve been referred to a knee consultant, they’ll carry out a thorough physical examination of your knee and test your range of movement. They’ll also want to conduct imaging tests such as an ultrasound or an MRI scan to assess the level of damage in your knee. They’ll get the results that day and will begin devising a treatment plan for your surgery.
03
Treatment
Your surgeon will replace the damaged part of your joint with a prosthesis, helping to improve your mobility while reducing pain. This procedure involves a smaller incision than a total knee replacement, which makes it likely you’ll heal more quickly and have a faster recovery time.
04
Recovery and aftercare
You can expect to go home within two days. Before you go home, one of our physiotherapy specialists will help you to start moving around using crutches or a walker. They’ll also give you advice on the best post-operative rehab exercises to do at home to support your recovery and when and how you can gradually start weight-bearing again.
Most patients can walk without the aid of crutches or a walker in one to two weeks. Your consultant will let you know when you can get back to your usual routine, including work, driving or exercise. This is usually six weeks after surgery, but you can find out more in the FAQs below.
Most patients can walk without the aid of crutches or a walker in one to two weeks. Your consultant will let you know when you can get back to your usual routine, including work, driving or exercise. This is usually six weeks after surgery, but you can find out more in the FAQs below.
Locations
You can access our specialist knee services at a range of convenient locations across London and at our flagship hospital in Birmingham. From initial consultation through to treatment and next steps, you’ll be treated by some of the country’s most respected experts.
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road SW1W 8RH London
The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way B15 2TQ Birmingham
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
Accessing private healthcare
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what treatments you’re paying for.
Find out more
Partial knee replacement surgery FAQ
Yes, it is. Surgeons have several different names for this procedure, but they’re all the same surgery.
Partial knee replacement is sometimes called ‘partial knee resurfacing’, ‘unicompartmental knee replacement’, unicondylar knee arthroplasty or even an ‘unicondylar knee replacement’. It’s sometimes known informally as a ‘uni’ or ‘half knee replacement'.
Partial knee replacement is sometimes called ‘partial knee resurfacing’, ‘unicompartmental knee replacement’, unicondylar knee arthroplasty or even an ‘unicondylar knee replacement’. It’s sometimes known informally as a ‘uni’ or ‘half knee replacement'.
Unicompartmental osteoarthritis of the knee is a degenerative condition in which the cartilage in one part of your knee wears away. Your knee cartilage absorbs shock and stops your bones from rubbing together, so when it’s worn, it causes pain in your knee. That affects only one part of the knee, leaving the other regions healthy.
To understand why you might experience unicompartmental osteoarthritis, it’s important to look at the anatomy of the knee joint. Your knee connects three bones: the femur (thigh bone), patella (kneecap) and tibia (shin bone). Two protruding lumps on the bottom of your femur (femoral condyles) make up the top of the knee. The bottom of your knee is made up of the upper tibia (the tibial plateau) and the kneecap sits in front.
As well as the three bones, there are three compartments in your knee, the medial compartment, the lateral compartment and the patellofemoral compartment. When we refer to ‘unicompartmental osteoarthritis’, it means that just one of the compartments is damaged. It can happen in any compartment but is most commonly found in the medial compartment.
Unicompartmental osteoarthritis is caused by the cartilage within your joint wearing away. Cartilage stops your bones from rubbing together and acts as a shock absorber in the joint. It can thin over time, however, resulting in your joint feeling painful or stiff and your range of motion being restricted. If this happens and non-surgical options have been exhausted, you might need a partial knee replacement.
Your consultant might recommend the following to help speed up your recovery:
Applying an ice pack to your knee: Doing this several times per day in 20-minute bursts will help minimise pain and swelling
Elevating your knee: This will reduce blood flow to it, providing relief from inflammation, pain and swelling. It’s recommended that you keep your knee above the level of your heart, if possible, by propping it on cushions while lying down or resting your leg on a footstool
Keeping your incision sites clean: It’s important that you carefully follow your surgeon’s advice about how often to change your dressing and when you can shower again
Physiotherapy: Your care team includes a dedicated physiotherapist who can help you move safely and aid recovery with a combination of massage and exercise
At-home exercises: You’ll be given some simple exercises to do at home to strengthen the muscles around your knee, get blood to the area for recovery and minimise joint stiffness. You should be able to do these exercises almost immediately after your surgery
You’ll have regular check-ups after your operation, and your specialist team will give you any specific advice you need to manage your recovery.
Applying an ice pack to your knee: Doing this several times per day in 20-minute bursts will help minimise pain and swelling
Elevating your knee: This will reduce blood flow to it, providing relief from inflammation, pain and swelling. It’s recommended that you keep your knee above the level of your heart, if possible, by propping it on cushions while lying down or resting your leg on a footstool
Keeping your incision sites clean: It’s important that you carefully follow your surgeon’s advice about how often to change your dressing and when you can shower again
Physiotherapy: Your care team includes a dedicated physiotherapist who can help you move safely and aid recovery with a combination of massage and exercise
At-home exercises: You’ll be given some simple exercises to do at home to strengthen the muscles around your knee, get blood to the area for recovery and minimise joint stiffness. You should be able to do these exercises almost immediately after your surgery
You’ll have regular check-ups after your operation, and your specialist team will give you any specific advice you need to manage your recovery.
You'll need to wait six to eight weeks after surgery before you can drive again. Your consultant will be able to talk you through exactly when it’s safe. If you're still unable to drive three months after your operation, you’ll need to notify the DVLA.
That depends on the complexity of your operation and how well you recover. Your consultant will let you know when they think you’re ready, but it's usually only once you've regained flexibility, strength and fitness post-operation.
Low-impact sports like walking, cycling, swimming and golf are typically possible earlier than high-impact sports like running, football, skiing and tennis.
Low-impact sports like walking, cycling, swimming and golf are typically possible earlier than high-impact sports like running, football, skiing and tennis.
Thanks to great advances in the implants and how the procedure is conducted, you can now expect your artificial implant to last for up to 20 years. After that, you may need knee revision surgery to replace it. The more revisions you have, the more likely you are to lose the bone from around the knee, which can lead to complications.
Our patients’ stories
Andrew's story - Knee replacement using the Mako robot
Every golfer knows that your left knee is critical for making the perfect swing.
So, what happens when that knee is injured?
Decades of knee pain: Judith's story
Retired physiotherapist and keen artist, Judith has had knee pain since she was in her forties. At the age of 81, after years of suffering, she made the decision to explore her options to cure her knee pain.
From a limp to ultramarathons
In May 2022, Neil underwent a combined total knee replacement and simultaneous removal of the PVNS under the care of Mr Pollock at The Princess Grace Hospital. Initially incredibly nervous about the procedure and what his world could look like post-operation, life has completely changed.
“With hindsight, I should have dealt with my knee problems a long time ago. I’d say to anyone else in my position that if you’re not sure about anything, you should seek the help of a specialist.”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.