What happens on the day of a partial knee replacement operation?

Before you go to theatre

You will be told when to stop eating and drinking, usually from midnight for food, with clear fluids allowed until a set time. Take only the medicines you have been told to take. On arrival, the team checks your details, consent and tests, and the correct knee is marked with a pen. The anaesthetist reviews your health and explains the plan.

Anaesthesia and pain control

Most partial knee replacements are done under spinal anaesthesia, which numbs the legs, often with sedation so you are drowsy or asleep. General anaesthesia is an alternative. Local anaesthetic is usually injected around the knee during surgery, and some patients also have a nerve block. Together these keep pain under control in the first hours and allow early movement.

The operation

Through an incision usually shorter than for a total knee, the surgeon first inspects the joint to confirm that the other compartments and the ACL are healthy enough for a partial replacement. If they are not, the plan discussed beforehand, which may be a total knee, is followed. The worn surfaces of the affected compartment are prepared using precise guides, trial components are tested for fit, balance and movement, and the final metal components and plastic bearing are fixed in place. The wound is closed and a dressing applied.

After surgery on the same day

• Time in recovery while the anaesthetic wears off
• Pain relief on a regular schedule, ice and leg elevation
• Blood-clot prevention with medication, stockings or foot pumps
• A physiotherapist helps you stand and walk with a frame or crutches, often the same day
• An X-ray of the knee to check the implant position

Going home

Hospital stays after a partial knee are often short, sometimes one or two nights, depending on your health, pain control and how safely you are walking. Before you leave, you will be shown your exercises, how to manage stairs, how to look after the wound and who to call at Aman Hospital if you have concerns.