What Is the Recovery Difference for Total Knee & Partial Knee Replacement?

Knee replacement is a common procedure for those suffering from arthritis in the joint. The type of replacement performed, total or partial, depends on the severity of damage to the knee.

Anatomy

• The knee joint is made up of the femur (thigh bone), tibia (leg bone) and patella (knee cap). Within the joint is articular cartilage, connective tissue that cushions the joint, allowing for smooth movement.

Osteoarthitis

• Osteoarthitis is a main reason for knee replacement. This is usually caused by strenuous overuse of the joint over a prolonged period of time.

Total Knee Replacement

• Total knee replacement involves removing the entire surface of all the bones of the knee and inserting implants at the end of the remaing bones to allow for proper movement.

Partial Knee Replacement

• In some patients, only the inside part of the knee is affected. Therefore, only the affected part is reshaped and fixed with an implant. Additionally, in partial replacement, the front and rear knee ligaments are unaffected and do not have to be replaced.

Recovery Time for Total Knee Replacement

• After total knee replacement patients are able to walk freely at about 6 weeks. At 8 weeks, patients can begin light physical activity.

Recovery Time for Partial Knee Replacement

• Since partial replacement involves less bone and tissue dissection, and the ligaments remain intact, it generally takes less time and rehabilitation than total replacement.