Last reviewed: September 29, 2026

For the right knee, mostly yes. The main question is how often it needs to be redone.

A partial knee replacement resurfaces only the worn part of the knee, most often the inner side, and leaves the rest alone. It is an option only when the arthritis is limited to that one part.

In the largest trial, from the UK, people with arthritis on the inner side of the knee were randomly given a partial or a total replacement. Ten years later, how the knee felt and worked was about the same in both groups, and so were the rates of redo operations.

National joint registries, which cover far more people but are records rather than trials, show a partly different picture. People with a partial knee went home sooner, had fewer serious complications such as blood clots and heart attacks, and were less likely to die in the months after surgery. Pain was about the same, and function slightly better. But partial knees were redone two to three times as often. Part of that gap may reflect decisions rather than failures: when a partial knee does poorly, surgeons are more willing to redo it than a total knee that does equally poorly.

People with a partial knee are more likely to return to sport, though that evidence is weak. The people chosen for a partial knee also tend to be younger and more active to begin with. When one study adjusted for those differences, activity after the two operations was about the same. After both, high-impact sports usually drop off.

No age decides between the two, and no guideline sets one. In a large series from one specialist center, age did not change how often partial knees were redone, and younger patients gained the most function compared with a total knee. Results from one specialist center may not hold everywhere.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons guideline says either operation can be used for arthritis mainly on the inner side of the knee.

In general:

  • A partial knee replacement is only for arthritis limited to one part of the knee.
  • Recovery is usually quicker, with fewer early complications.
  • Weigh that against a possibly higher chance of a redo later.
  • Age alone does not decide between them.
  • Ask your surgeon whether your knee qualifies for a partial replacement.

Drafted with AI assistance from published sources, reviewed and edited by Babak Sheikh, MD.

Sources:

This is general information about what published research shows. It is not medical advice and it is not about your situation. Reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship with me. I am a retired orthopedic surgeon and I do not see patients. Talk with your own doctor before changing anything about your care. If something feels suddenly or seriously wrong, get medical care promptly rather than waiting.

This page is provided as is. I make no guarantee that it is accurate, complete or current, and medical evidence changes. Use of it is at your own risk.

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