What Are the Downsides of Partial Knee Replacement?
Honest answer: stricter patient selection, and a small risk that arthritis progresses in the untouched compartments.
The two genuine downsides of UKA are patient selection and the possibility of disease progression. Only about 30–50% of arthritic knees are suitable for a partial replacement, so it is not an option for everyone.
Because UKA only treats the worn compartment, arthritis can theoretically develop later in the untouched compartments. In practice this is uncommon when patient selection is correct, but a small percentage of UKAs (around 5–8% at 10 years) eventually need conversion to a total knee replacement.
Set against these are clear advantages: shorter operation, less blood loss, smaller scar, faster recovery, more natural knee feel, preserved ligaments and lower complication rates. For the right patient, the trade is overwhelmingly favourable.
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