Partial Knee Replacement: 5 Things To Know

A detailed anatomical model of a human knee is displayed on a table in a clinical setting, with a healthcare professional partially visible in the background.

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Partial knee replacement surgery involves replacing only the damaged portion of the knee joint, rather than the entire joint. This focused approach often leads to faster recovery and a more natural range of motion in patients with localised knee arthritis. Below are five important facts to understand before considering this procedure.

What Is Partial Knee Replacement?

Partial knee replacement is a surgical procedure where only the damaged compartment of the knee, such as the inner (medial), outer (lateral), or kneecap (patellofemoral) area, is replaced while the healthy bone, cartilage, and ligaments like the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are preserved. This surgical technique uses a small incision and causes less disruption to surrounding tissue, helping maintain more natural joint function after surgery.

Who Might Be Suitable for Partial Knee Replacement?

Localised arthritis: Damage is limited to one compartment of the knee, with healthy cartilage in the remaining areas

Intact ligaments: The anterior cruciate ligament and other supporting ligaments must be stable and functional

Good range of motion: The knee should be able to bend to at least 90 degrees prior to surgery

Suitable activity level: Typically recommended for individuals over 60 who engage in low impact activities rather than high intensity sports

Recovery Differences from Total Knee Replacement

Partial knee replacement usually allows for a quicker and smoother recovery:

Hospital stay: Most patients are discharged the same day or after one night

Walking timeline: Patients often begin walking with support within hours and without aids within 2 to 4 weeks

Return to activities: Light physical activity may resume within 4 to 6 weeks, with full recovery by 3 to 4 months

Physiotherapy: Rehab is generally shorter, focusing on restoring strength and motion in the preserved parts of the joint

Long-term Outcomes and Expectations

With proper patient selection and adherence to rehabilitation, long-term outcomes are often very positive:

Pain relief: Around 85 to 90 percent of patients report lasting pain reduction

Natural movement: Many describe the joint as feeling more natural than after total knee replacement

Implant lifespan: Implants typically last 15 to 20 years with proper care

Satisfaction rates: Most patients express high satisfaction and say they would choose the surgery again

Why See an Orthopaedic and Knee Specialist in Singapore?

If you are considering partial knee replacement, consulting a specialist with dedicated expertise in knee conditions is an important step. An orthopaedic and knee specialist is trained to assess the type, location, and severity of your joint damage in detail, helping determine whether partial replacement is suitable for your case. With access to advanced imaging and surgical techniques, a knee specialist can tailor treatment precisely to the affected compartment while preserving healthy structures.

Choosing a surgeon who focuses specifically on hip and knee care ensures a more accurate diagnosis, appropriate surgical planning, and a smoother recovery journey.

Conclusion

Partial knee replacement can relieve pain and restore function for patients with arthritis limited to one part of the knee. If your symptoms continue despite treatment, consult an orthopaedic hip and knee specialist to determine if this option is right for you.

Dr. Ambrose Yung

Specialist Orthopaedic Hip & Knee Surgeon

Dr Ambrose Yung Wai Yin is a Senior Orthopaedic Hip & Knee Surgeon with over 20 years of experience in the field of orthopaedics.

Areas of Expertise:

Knee Surgery: Complex procedures like revision knee arthroplasty, partial knee replacement, and primary total knee replacement.
Minimally Invasive Surgery: Shoulder, ankle, and knee surgeries with minimal scarring and quicker recovery times.
Limb Reconstruction: Specialized in both upper and lower limb reconstruction.

Computer-guided Knee Replacement: Dr. Yung trained at the prestigious Oxford University Hospital in the UK, where he specialized in computer-guided partial and total knee replacements.

Dr. Chee Kin Ghee

Specialist Hand & Orthopaedic Surgeon

Dr Chee Kin Ghee is a specialist hand surgeon with over 20 years of experience in hand and orthopaedic surgery.

His clinical expertise includes treatments for complex hand, wrist, and upper limbs injuries, wrist and finger joint replacement, minimally invasive hand and wrist surgery, and nerve compression release surgery

Dr Chee was awarded a 1-year fellowship (HMDP by MOH) & trained at world-renowned Wrightington Hospital Upper Limb Unit, UK.
He was trained in the management of complex upper limb conditions, including complex joint replacement of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand, as well as modern minimally invasive upper limb surgery.

Dr. Low Mun Hon

Dr Low Mun Hon has over 20 years of experience managing trauma and orthopaedic clinical care. Prior to this, he has been in private practise as a practitioner at Singapore Sports & Orthopaedic Clinic (SSOC).

Dr. Low graduated from Monash University Medical School (Melbourne). Thereafter, he pursued his internship at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

He subsequently continued his practice of medicine at Singapore General Hospital (SGH). During this period, he was awarded the membership of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons at Glasgow in 2008 & Master of Medicine in Orthopaedic Surgery (National University of Singapore) in the same year.
Dr Low had previously worked as an orthopaedic trainee at various local teaching hospitals i.e. Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH), Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KK Hospital) and Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

Justin Lim Xuan Li

Physiotherapist

Justin is a skilled and experienced physiotherapist who specializes in the treatment of neuro-musculoskeletal conditions (nerve, muscle and joint).

Over the years, he honed his clinical skills across all sectors of healthcare, allowing him to attain mastery of the sophisticated human body and address complex problems effectively, allowing him to successfully address complex neuro-musculoskeletal conditions at an accelerated pace.

Justin graduated from Trinity College Dublin and started his career in National Healthcare Group Polyclinics. His skills quickly gained recognition and was appointed as a clinical educator for physiotherapy students and even tasked to develop Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Subsequently, he continued his practice in community care settings such as Thye Hwa Kwan Rehabilitation Centres and Saint Andrew Community Hospital, where he focused on developing his skills for geriatric rehabilitation and improving quality of care in rehabilitation centres. He then moved on to private practice in Parkway East Hospital, specializing in post operative and outpatient rehabilitation.

Chan Jing Cheng (JC)

Physiotherapist

JC has over 12 years of experience in treating Chronic pain, Orthopaedic and Geriatric conditions.

He had worked at various Private Hospitals, Singapore General Hospital, NTUC Health Elder Care and Lions Home for the Elders.
He is passionate about solving complex musculoskeletal disorders and helping clients relief pain from trauma and illness.
He has a special interest in the Shoulder, Spine, Hip and Knee joint conditions.
He has helped thousands of clients go through rehabilitation smoothly and achieved higher satisfaction after orthopaedic surgery.

Zita Sham

Physiotherapist

Zita graduated with a Diploma in Physiotherapy from Nanyang Polytechnic (Singapore) in 2014 and started working in Ng Teng Fong General Hospital to serve her sponsorship bond.

Later in 2015, she pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy from Trinity College Dublin, which was provided in Singapore Institute of Technology.

After completion of her studies, Zita worked in the Day Rehabilitation Centre in Jurong Community Hospital for 6 years, where she focused on community rehabilitation for a variety of patients. Patients that were mainly seen consisted of post-operative, geriatric and neurological conditions.
Zita also has a passion in musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy and is looking to pursue that. She is also keen to provide home-based physiotherapy to reach out to those in need of her expertise.

Joanna Lim

Hand Occupational Therapy

Joanna’s primary specialization and passion is in hand therapy and upper limb rehabilitation, having more than 10 years of experience in this field.

Joanna obtained her Diploma in Occupational Therapy (Merit) from Nanyang Polytechnic in 2006. Under the MOH Health Science Scholarship, she graduated from La Trobe University, Australia, with a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy (1st class Honors) the following year. Upon graduation, she worked in Changi General Hospital and Sengkang General Hospital.

She has worked with hand and orthopedic surgeons in both inpatient and outpatient settings, providing quality therapy services for clients with a variety of hand and upper limb conditions, including fractures, sprains/strains, tendon injuries, nerve injuries, repetitive strain disorders and complex trauma injuries.
During her tenures at CGH and SKGH, Joanna was a Senior Occupational Therapist and held the role of Hand Therapy and Upper Limb Rehabilitation Unit Leader. She was in charge of clinical supervision and management of staff, manpower planning, and daily operations of the unit.