Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty is a surgical procedure that relieves arthritis confined to a single compartment of the knee by replacing only the damaged portion of the joint, rather than the whole knee. Compared with a total knee replacement, it may involve a smaller incision, less tissue damage, reduced post-operative pain, and a shorter recovery period, particularly in patients over 75. In the United States it accounts for roughly 8 percent of knee arthroplasties, and studies comparing it with high tibial osteotomy have found equal or better outcomes.