Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Görkem Kıyak
OrthopedicsVerified
- 21+years exp.
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Joint Replacement
Unicompartmental partial knee replacement
What a unicompartmental (partial) knee replacement is, which patients are suitable, what registry evidence says about durability against total knee replacement, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, the operation step by step, recovery milestones, risks and how to check a hospital before travelling.
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Unicompartmental partial knee replacement: what it is and how it works
Unicompartmental partial knee replacement (UKR, also called a partial knee replacement or half knee) replaces only the worn part of the knee instead of the whole joint. The knee has three compartments: the inner (medial) side, the outer (lateral) side and the joint between the kneecap and the thigh bone. In many people osteoarthritis wears out just one of them, most often the medial side. The surgeon removes the damaged cartilage and a thin layer of bone from that compartment and fits a metal femoral component and a tibial component with a plastic bearing between them. Your own cruciate ligaments, the healthy compartments and the kneecap joint are left in place.
Because less is removed, the knee often feels more natural and bends further than after a total replacement. The trade-off is that the operation only suits a carefully selected group. This guide covers who qualifies, what the evidence says and what it costs. For the wider field see our orthopedics treatments in Turkey.
Who is suitable for a partial knee replacement?
A partial replacement is considered when arthritis is limited to one compartment and the rest of the knee is in good condition. Surgeons usually look for these features:
- pain concentrated on one side of the knee, usually the inner side, that has not settled with physiotherapy, weight management, walking aids or injections;
- an intact anterior cruciate ligament, because the design relies on it for stability;
- a knee that is only mildly bowed or knocked, with a deformity that can be corrected by hand;
- a good range of movement, without a fixed bend that cannot straighten;
- no inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid disease affecting the whole joint.
Age and weight are discussed individually. Older guidance excluded heavier patients, but modern surgeons look more at the joint than at the number on the scales. You are not a candidate if arthritis has spread to several compartments, if the ligament is torn, or if the knee is stiff. In those cases a total knee replacement is the usual operation. Standing X-rays, and sometimes an MRI or stress views, are used to confirm which compartments are affected, so a hospital cannot honestly confirm suitability without images.
Partial or total knee replacement: how do they compare?
This is the question most patients ask, and the answer is a trade-off rather than a winner. Large national joint registries, including the National Joint Registry for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, report that partial replacements are more likely to need a second operation over the years than total replacements. In return, people with a partial replacement tend to recover faster, have less pain in the early months and often describe a more natural-feeling knee.
| Operation | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Partial (unicompartmental) replacement | Arthritis in one compartment, intact ligaments, good movement | Higher chance of later revision; arthritis can progress in other compartments |
| Total knee replacement | Arthritis in two or three compartments, or ligament damage | Longer recovery; more bone removed; knee may feel less natural |
| Robotic-assisted partial replacement | Same patients as a standard partial, with the plan built from a CT scan | Needs equipment and an experienced team; see knee Makoplasty |
Some partial replacements are later converted to a total replacement; this is generally a manageable operation but is more complex than a first replacement, a point also covered in our guide to revision knee replacement. A good surgeon will discuss this openly rather than promising that a partial replacement will last a lifetime.
Does a partial knee replacement last, and how well does it work?
For well-selected patients the evidence is positive. Studies and registry data show good pain relief and function, and many partial replacements work well for 10 to 15 years or more. Results depend heavily on selection and on how many partial knees the surgeon performs: surgeons who do them regularly tend to report better survival of the implant. Implant design, weight and activity level also play a part.
What the evidence does not support is a promise that the knee will feel like a young knee or that you can return to impact sport without risk. Most surgeons recommend walking, swimming, cycling and golf, and advise caution with running and jumping.
Unicompartmental partial knee replacement cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges for one knee, not hospital quotes. They depend on the implant, whether robotic assistance is used, the length of stay and what the package includes. The hospital confirms its own price in a written quote.
| Country | Approximate cost range (one knee) |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €5,500 – €11,000 |
| United Kingdom | €9,000 – €17,000 |
| United States | €20,000 – €45,000 |
| Germany | €9,000 – €18,000 |
What changes the price: the implant brand and whether it is cemented, conventional or robotic technique, the room type, the number of nights in hospital and the amount of physiotherapy included. A clear package normally lists the pre-operative tests, surgeon and anaesthetist fees, implant, hospital stay, in-hospital physiotherapy, medication, a walking aid and airport transfers. Read how our process works to see how quotes are prepared.
How is a partial knee replacement done, step by step?
You are usually admitted on the day of surgery or the evening before. Most hospitals use spinal anaesthesia with sedation, which numbs the legs while you stay relaxed, and some use general anaesthesia; the anaesthetist explains the choice. The surgeon makes a shorter incision than for a total knee, typically around 8 to 12 cm, and protects the kneecap and the ligaments. The damaged bone surface is trimmed with guides or a robotic arm, trial components are checked for fit and movement, and the final implants are fixed, normally with bone cement. The operation takes about 60 to 90 minutes.
You are usually on your feet with a physiotherapist within hours. Many hospitals discharge partial replacement patients after one to three nights, which is shorter than for a total knee.
What does recovery after a partial knee replacement look like?
Recovery is quicker than after a total knee, but swelling, bruising and stiffness still last for weeks. A typical timeline is below; your surgeon will adjust it.
- Days 1 to 3: walking with a frame or crutches, bending exercises, blood-thinning medication or stockings.
- Weeks 1 to 2: stitches or clips are checked, the leg is elevated and iced, and you walk short distances with one stick or crutch.
- Weeks 3 to 6: most people walk without aids, stairs become easier and desk work is possible. Driving is allowed once you can control the car in an emergency stop, generally 3 to 6 weeks, and you should check your insurer.
- Months 2 to 3: swimming, cycling and gentle gym work resume as strength returns.
- Months 6 to 12: swelling fades and the knee reaches its final function.
Plan to stay in Turkey for about 7 to 10 days so the surgeon can see the wound, remove stitches if needed and confirm you can walk, bend the knee and manage stairs before you fly. Your team will advise on clot prevention for the flight.
What results can I realistically expect?
Most patients feel that the knee pain is much reduced and that the knee bends and straightens more freely than before surgery. X-rays show a small metal and plastic implant on one side of the joint, with the rest of the knee untouched. What the pictures do not show is how you feel: stiffness in the morning, occasional aching in changing weather and awareness of the implant when kneeling are common even when the result is good. Kneeling is possible for many people but can be uncomfortable.
Ask for typical results, not selected cases.
What are the risks of partial knee replacement?
All joint replacement carries risks, and the NHS lists the main ones: infection, blood clots in the leg or lung, stiffness, persistent pain, loosening or wear of the implant over time, injury to nearby nerves or vessels, and the risks of anaesthesia. Specific to partial replacement is the chance that arthritis progresses in the remaining compartments, which may need further surgery later. Smoking, diabetes, obesity and heart disease raise the risks, so a hospital should assess you before agreeing to operate. Contact your surgeon at once about increasing redness, fever, discharge from the wound, a swollen painful calf or breathlessness; the latter two need emergency care.
How do I choose a surgeon and hospital, and what are the red flags?
Check that the surgeon is an orthopaedic specialist who performs partial knee replacements regularly, that the hospital is licensed, with an intensive-care unit and an on-site anaesthetist, and that the implant is a recognised brand with registry data. Insist on a written plan and price based on your own X-rays. Red flags include a quote made without images, a promise of a partial replacement before anyone has seen your knee, pressure to pay a deposit quickly, no named surgeon and no plan for follow-up once you are home. Request a plan through our free quote page.
What should I ask the clinic before booking?
- Which compartment is affected on my scans, and why is a partial replacement suitable rather than a total?
- How many partial knee replacements does the surgeon perform each year?
- Which implant will be used, is it cemented, and is it covered by registry data?
- Is the technique conventional or robotic, and does this change the price?
- How many nights in hospital and how much physiotherapy are included?
- What happens if I develop a complication after returning home, and who pays?
- Can I have my records, implant sticker and discharge summary in English?
Hospitals with Orthopedics in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is an operation that replaces only one worn compartment of the knee, usually the inner side, with a metal and plastic implant. The cruciate ligaments, the other compartments and the kneecap joint are kept.
People with arthritis limited to one compartment, an intact anterior cruciate ligament, a correctable deformity and good movement. X-rays are needed to confirm this, and many patients turn out to need a total replacement instead.
Approximate ranges are €5,500 to €11,000 in Turkey, against about €9,000 to €17,000 in the UK. The price depends on the implant, robotic assistance, hospital stay and package contents; the hospital confirms it in writing.
Many last 10 to 15 years or longer, but registry data show partial replacements are revised more often than total replacements. Surgeon experience, implant design, weight and activity level all affect how long the knee lasts.
Usually yes. Many people leave hospital after one to three nights, walk without aids within three to six weeks and regain bending early on, although swelling and full strength take several months to settle completely.
There is soreness, swelling and bruising for several weeks. Nerve blocks and regular painkillers usually keep it manageable, and pain generally eases noticeably after the first two weeks as movement returns and you stay active with your physiotherapy.
Neither suits everyone. A partial replacement preserves more of the knee and recovers faster but has a higher later revision rate; a total replacement treats more widespread arthritis. Your scans, your ligaments and your surgeon decide.
Plan for about 7 to 10 days. The surgeon checks the wound, removes stitches if needed and confirms you can walk, bend and use stairs before you fly. Ask about clot prevention for the journey home.
Many people can kneel, though it can feel uncomfortable. Walking, swimming, cycling and golf are usually fine; surgeons advise caution with running and jumping because repeated impact may shorten the life of the implant over the years.
It is a standard operation in accredited hospitals. Safety depends on the surgeon's experience, a proper assessment from your X-rays, an established implant and a follow-up plan, so check each of these before you book.
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