Primary knee replacement.Partial or total—the pattern of damage shapes the operation.
Primary knee replacement includes partial and total knee replacement. The choice is not made from one X-ray alone: symptoms, function, the distribution of arthritis, alignment, ligament status, general health and personal goals all matter. Primary knee replacement in Abu Dhabi is performed at Healthpoint Hospital, serving patients throughout the UAE.
Replace what is damaged. Preserve what can reasonably be preserved.
Partial and total knee replacement are different operations for different patterns of joint disease. The aim is to match the reconstruction to the knee—not to force every patient into the same procedure.
01LOCALISED DISEASE
Partial knee replacement
In appropriately selected patients, only the affected compartment is resurfaced while unaffected parts of the knee are preserved.
02BROADER JOINT DAMAGE
Total knee replacement
The damaged femoral and tibial joint surfaces are resurfaced across the knee using femoral, tibial and polyethylene components.
CHAPTER 02 · SUITABILITY
Before choosing the implant, establish whether replacement is the right operation.
Age alone does not decide suitability. The consultation brings together the diagnosis, level of functional limitation, previous treatment, imaging and the factors that may influence recovery.
01
Is the joint the main source of the problem?
The symptoms, examination and imaging should tell a coherent story before replacement is discussed.
02
How much is daily life being limited?
Walking, stairs, sleep, work, exercise and independence help define the real burden of the knee problem.
03
Where is the arthritis located?
A truly localised compartment pattern may support a partial replacement discussion; broader disease may favour total replacement.
04
What do alignment and ligaments show?
Stability, deformity, range of motion and ligament function influence whether a partial strategy is appropriate.
05
What needs to be optimised before surgery?
General health, medications, smoking, diabetes, weight where relevant, home support and rehabilitation planning can affect risk and recovery.
REAL CLINICAL X-RAY / 02
“Suitability is a clinical decision. The X-ray helps describe the knee; it does not make the decision by itself.”
Clinical image supplied for the site. Patient identifiers removed where present.
CHAPTER 03 · REAL POSTOPERATIVE X-RAYS
Primary replacement is not one radiographic picture.The reconstruction follows the compartment pattern.
These clinic-supplied examples illustrate different postoperative appearances. They are educational examples only; an X-ray cannot establish whether a particular procedure is suitable for another person.
01 · PARTIAL
Unicompartmental replacement
Only one tibiofemoral compartment has been resurfaced; the remaining joint surfaces are preserved.
02 · TOTAL
Total knee replacement
Femoral and tibial components resurface the main joint surfaces. Postoperative films are also used to document component position and alignment.
03 · COMPARTMENT-SPECIFIC
Patellofemoral replacement
In selected cases where disease is isolated to the kneecap and trochlear compartment, a compartment-specific replacement may be considered.
CHAPTER 04 · SURGICAL PLANNING
The operation starts before theatre. Planning defines the route.
Replacement planning is about more than choosing an implant. It establishes what needs to be resurfaced, how the limb is aligned, how the knee balances and what the patient needs from the operation.
STEP 01
DISEASE PATTERN
Map where the joint damage actually sits.
What is assessed
Symptoms, examination and appropriate radiographs are used to understand whether disease is truly localised or involves multiple compartments.
Why it matters
The distribution of disease is central to deciding whether a partial replacement is realistic or whether a total replacement is more appropriate.
↔The plan is individual. Implant choice, surgical technique and use of technology are determined after assessment rather than selected from a menu in isolation.
CHAPTER 05 · THE OPERATION
Resurface the damaged joint. Rebuild a stable, functional knee.
During primary knee replacement, the damaged joint surfaces are prepared and the planned components are positioned. The exact steps differ between partial and total replacement, and the surgeon checks alignment, stability, movement and soft-tissue balance before completing the procedure.
Real clinical photography supplied by the surgeon.
01
Prepare
Damaged bone and cartilage are prepared according to the selected partial or total replacement plan.
02
Position
Implant components are positioned to reconstruct the planned joint surfaces and alignment.
03
Balance
Movement, stability and soft-tissue balance are assessed before final components are accepted.
04
Recover
The postoperative plan moves quickly toward safe mobility, swelling control and progressive rehabilitation.
RECOVERY · FUNCTION
Recovery is progressive—not a single finish date.
Early rehabilitation focuses on safe mobility, swelling control and restoring useful movement. Strength, endurance and confidence are rebuilt over time according to the individual operation, starting point and goals.
Safe walking & transfers
Range of motion
Strength & control
Everyday function
RELATED SURGICAL ROUTES
Primary replacement is one part of the knee surgery pathway.
Use the related pages when technology, an existing implant or an earlier stage of arthritis is the main question.
PRIMARY KNEE REPLACEMENT FAQ
Useful questions before deciding on replacement.
General information only. The appropriate operation, implant strategy and recovery plan require an individual clinical assessment.
01What is the difference between partial and total knee replacement?+
Partial knee replacement resurfaces only the affected compartment in appropriately selected patients. Total knee replacement resurfaces the damaged femoral and tibial joint surfaces across the knee.
02How is the choice between partial and total replacement made?+
The decision depends on the distribution of arthritis, symptoms and function, examination findings, alignment, ligament status, imaging, general health and personal goals.
03Is robotic knee replacement a different implant?+
No. Robotic assistance is a technology that may support three-dimensional planning and intra-operative guidance during selected partial or total knee replacement procedures. Read the dedicated robotic guide.
04Is the kneecap always resurfaced during total knee replacement?+
No. Patellar resurfacing is not automatic and is decided according to the individual knee and the surgeon's operative assessment.
05When does walking start after knee replacement?+
Mobilisation commonly begins early after surgery with guidance from the clinical and rehabilitation team. The exact timing and use of walking aids depend on the individual.
06How long does recovery take?+
Recovery is progressive and varies. Early goals include safe mobility and swelling control, followed by range of motion, strength, endurance and return to meaningful everyday activities.
A SURGICAL DECISION, INDIVIDUALISED
Bring the problem. The assessment clarifies the procedure.
You do not need to decide between partial, total or robotic-assisted surgery before the consultation. Bring previous imaging, treatment history, the symptom timeline and the activities you want to regain.
Prof. Hanna is a UK board-certified consultant orthopaedic hip and knee surgeon at Healthpoint Hospital, Abu Dhabi, with clinical interests including primary and revision joint replacement, partial knee replacement and robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement.
