Partial knee replacement surgery is done under in our ambulatory surgery centers, so hospitalization is not required. By having your surgery in an ambulatory center, you avoid hospital errors, have a lower risk of infection with COVID-19 as well as in your new joint. The anesthesiologist typically performs a spinal anesthetic, which enables you to take your first steps within 90 minutes of the knee replacement surgery and to actually walk out of the surgery center yourself. Walking right after surgery reduces to the point of eliminating the risk of developing blood clots in your legs which can be fatal if they go to your lungs. That means having ambulatory surgery is not only less painful, but it may also save your life.
The recovery after partial knee replacement is shorter than after total knee replacement. While every patient is given a walker when they leave the surgery center, most no longer use them to assist in walking 1-2 days after their minimally invasive robotic assisted partial knee replacement surgery. Home exercises shown in a video series by our own Dr. Amy and Ashley direct you to in how to exercise and increase your activity after surgery to ensure the best result possible. In partial knee replacement surgery, the surgeon only removes bone from the single arthritic compartment; therefore, they remove only half as much bone for a partial knee replacement (single compartment) as a total knee replacement (two compartments). Half as much bone removal means half as much bone to heal. Most patients are ready to return to light-duty work 1-2 weeks after knee replacement, moderate duty 3-6 weeks later, and heavy duty after 12 weeks.
Once fully recovered from minimally invasive robotic assisted partial knee replacement patient are extremely satisfied and have no permanent restrictions. Partial knee replacement surgery has the highest patient satisfaction reported (91%) of any orthopedic surgery. The level of satisfaction after partial replacement is much higher than that of total knee replacement (74%).