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Partial vs. Total Knee Replacement: Which One, and Where MAKO Fits
Elite Sports Medicine ·
If knee arthritis has outlasted therapy, injections and bracing, the next question is often which kind of replacement. The answer depends on how much of the knee is worn. Here is how the two compare, and where robotic assistance comes in.
The difference in one sentence
The knee has three compartments. A partial (unicompartmental) replacement resurfaces only the one that is worn, while a total replacement resurfaces the whole joint.
Who qualifies for a partial
A partial is an option when the arthritis is confined to one compartment, most often the inner (medial) side. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons notes that only a small percentage of patients qualify, because most have damage in two or more areas. For them, a total knee replacement is the better solution.
The trade-offs
| Partial knee replacement | Total knee replacement | |
|---|---|---|
| What is replaced | One worn compartment | The whole joint surface |
| Your own bone and ligaments | More is kept | Less is kept |
| Typical hospital stay (AAOS) | 1–2 days | 3–4 days |
| Recovery | Usually faster | Usually longer |
| Revision by 5 years (NIHR) | About 8–9% | About 3% (registry data) |
A review summarized by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research found that partial replacements had shorter hospital stays, fewer short-term complications and faster recovery. But about 8% needed revision surgery within five years, two to three times the rate after total knee replacement. That is the core trade-off: an easier recovery against a higher chance of a second operation later.
Where MAKO fits
MAKO is a robotic-arm system used for both partial and total knee replacement. It does not operate; the surgeon does. Before surgery, the system builds a 3D model of your knee from imaging, showing where the cartilage is worn and where each component should sit. During the operation, the arm holds the surgeon to that plan. Whether you need a partial or a total depends on how much of the joint is worn, not on the technology.
Dr. Marc F. Matarazzo is a MAKO-certified orthopedic surgeon and performs MAKO partial and total knee replacements for patients in Port St. Lucie and Palm Beach Gardens.
And if you aren’t ready for either
For early to moderate arthritis on the inner side of the knee, there is a third option that replaces nothing: the MISHA Knee System, an implanted shock absorber that leaves the joint intact.
Finding out which fits your knee
It takes an exam and imaging. Read more about MAKO knee replacement, call 561-202-8886 or request an appointment.