Total Knee vs. Partial Knee
Based on the severity of the arthritis of the knee, total or partial knee replacements may be recommended by one of our board-certified surgeons. Both procedures involve one of our surgeons guiding Mako’s robotic arm to remove diseased bone and cartilage.
A total knee replacement is a treatment option for adults living with mid to late stage Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. With a Mako total knee replacement, the entire knee joint is replaced, and the surgeon inserts a triathlon knee replacement. With over a decade of clinical history, triathlon knee replacements are much different than traditional knee replacements because they are designed to work with the body to promote natural-like circular motion.

A partial knee replacement is a treatment option for adults living with early to midstage Osteoarthritis (OA) that has not yet progressed to all three components of the knee. Depending on where the arthritis affects the knee, patients may have an implant in any of the following areas:
- In a unicondylar knee replacement, only one area (or compartment) of the knee joint is replaced.
- A patellofemoral knee replacement replaces the kneecap (or patella) and the grove at the lower end of the thighbone (or femur).
- A bicompartmental knee replacement affects two compartments of the knee – the inside (medial) and knee cap.