What's the Difference Between Partial and Total Knee Replacement?
Partial resurfaces one compartment; total resurfaces all three and removes the ACL.
A partial knee replacement resurfaces one of the three compartments of the knee — most commonly the medial side. The other two compartments, the cartilage, the menisci and all four major ligaments are left in place.
A total knee replacement resurfaces all three compartments and removes the anterior cruciate ligament (and sometimes the posterior cruciate) along the way. The remaining ligaments and the surrounding soft tissues stabilise the knee.
Practically, partial means a smaller cut, less bone removed, faster recovery and a more natural-feeling knee — at the cost of stricter patient selection. Total means a more standardised operation that suits any pattern of arthritis but feels less like 'your' knee afterwards.
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