What is Knee Replacement Surgery?
1. Total Knee Replacement
A Total Knee Replacement (TKR)—also known as total knee arthroplasty—is a proven surgery that replaces worn surfaces in your knee joint with durable metal and plastic components. It’s most often recommended for patients with advanced arthritis who have not found relief through non-surgical treatments.
Who is it for?
Individuals with severe knee pain or disability despite conservative management
Patients experiencing significant stiffness, grinding, and functional limitations
Suitable for most people aged 60–80, but can be safely performed in younger or older patients depending on individual needs
What to Expect
Damaged joint surfaces on the femur, tibia, and often the patella are replaced with prosthetic implants
Implants may be fixed with bone cement or cementless techniques, based on surgeon judgement and patient anatomy
The decision to operate is based on your symptoms and lifestyle—not just X‑ray findings
Benefits
Significant pain relief
Improved mobility and return to daily activities
Durable results—most implants last more than 15 years in properly selected patients
Surgery & Recovery
Pre-operative screening includes medical assessments (blood tests, ECG, imaging) to ensure you’re fit for surgery
Surgery typically takes around 80 minutes under enhanced recovery protocols
Physiotherapy begins on day of surgery to restore movement, strength, and function
Risks to Consider
Infection (< 1%), blood clots, stiffness, nerve issues, and implant wear
Smoking and obesity may increase complication risk—weight reduction and smoking cessation are encouraged
2. Partial (Unicompartmental) Knee Replacement
For patients with arthritis affecting only one compartment of the knee, a Partial Knee Replacement (also known as Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty or UKR) may be an effective alternative to TKR.
Why Choose Partial Replacement?
Restores only the damaged compartment, preserving healthy bone and ligaments (including the ACL)
Typically involves a smaller incision, less pain, less blood loss, and a quicker recovery compared to TKR
Ideal Candidates
Patients with isolated unicompartmental arthritis, often due to malalignment or prior injury
Younger, active individuals seeking high function
Patients with intact ligaments and normal alignment in the other compartments
Considerations
Technically more demanding—requires precise alignment to avoid mechanical mismatch between native and replaced compartments (“kinematic conflict”)
While revision rates are slightly higher than TKR, the procedure can be upgraded to a full TKR if needed
3. Revision Knee Replacement
A Revision Total Knee Replacement (RTKR) is a complex procedure performed when a previous knee replacement has failed or worn out. In most cases, all implants are replaced to restore function and stability.
Why Might Revision Be Required?
Osteolysis (bone loss from implant wear)
Loosening due to implant failure, obesity, or poor bone quality
Infection around the implant
Instability, stiffness, or mechanical failure of components—each cause requires a tailored revision plan
What the Surgery Involves
Removal of old implants
Reconstruction of bone and ligaments as needed
Implanting new, often more constrained prosthetic components
Careful planning based on cause of previous failure improves outcomes
Expectations and Outcomes
Revision surgery is major but can restore pain-free function when properly indicated
Success depends on identifying and addressing the root problem
Planning and technique are key to durable, long-term results
