Conditions / Arthritis and knee replacement
Replace what is worn. Keep what is not.
When arthritis has progressed beyond preservation, replacement resurfaces the damaged joint with metal and polyethylene components. The decision is driven by pain that limits your life despite other treatment, not by the X-ray alone. And the operation is not one operation: it is a choice between replacing one compartment, two, or all three.
Interactive procedure guide
Replacing the worn surfaces.
You can still switch views and read every explanation.
01 / Wear
A compartment affected by wear
The inner joint surfaces are highlighted to indicate an area of wear. The extent of arthritis and the rest of the knee guide treatment decisions.
Compare the highlighted surfaces with the replacement views.
Explore the anatomy
Illustrative anatomy. Colours, movement and implants are simplified to explain the principle; they do not show a specific patient or predict an outcome.
Signs
- Pain at rest or at night
- Stiffness and loss of straightening
- Difficulty with stairs and getting out of a chair
- Symptoms that no longer respond to physiotherapy, weight management and injections
When surgery is, and is not, the answer
Partial (unicompartmental) replacement is for arthritis confined to one side of the knee with intact ligaments. It is a smaller operation with a faster recovery and a more natural-feeling knee.
Bicompartmental replacement addresses the inner side and the kneecap together while leaving the outer side.
Total replacement is for arthritis across the joint. Robotic assistance is used to plan the cuts on a 3D model and execute them accurately, which improves alignment and soft tissue balance.
How it is done
One to three nights in hospital. Walking on the day of surgery with the physiotherapy team.
Dr Catteeuw's five-year randomised trial in Lyon studied the kneecap component in total replacement, one of the design decisions that affects how the knee feels on stairs afterwards.
What recovery looks like
- Walking with a stick within two weeks
- Driving at four to six weeks
- Most daily activity comfortable by three months, with improvement continuing to a year
- Low-impact sport, cycling, swimming and golf are all realistic goals
Timelines are typical ranges and are individualised. Progress is judged on strength and function, not dates.
Talk it through
If this sounds like your knee, contact Mediclinic to arrange a consultation with Dr Catteeuw. Bring any existing scans and reports so you can discuss the options together.