What’s a Partial Knee Resurfacing and Why is It for Me? Is It Better Than a Total Knee Replacement?

When knee pain holds you back and your scans show damage limited to one part of the knee, you might not need a total knee replacement at all. Partial knee resurfacing — sometimes called a partial knee replacement — is a highly effective option that treats only the damaged part of your knee and preserves the healthy parts.

🦵 What is Partial Knee Resurfacing?

In a partial knee resurfacing, only the worn-out section of your knee’s surface is replaced with a carefully shaped metal and plastic component. The other two-thirds of your knee — the healthy bone, cartilage, and ligaments — stay put.

That means a smaller incision, less pain after surgery, and faster recovery. Even better, most patients feel like they have a more “natural knee” after partial knee replacement because most of the knee is your own.

✅ Who is it for?

If most of your pain is located in one part of the knee — usually the inside (medial) compartment — and scans confirm good cartilage and intact ligaments elsewhere, you may be a good candidate.

🔬 What Does the Evidence Say?

Partial knee replacements have been studied closely. A 2019 review published in the Bone & Joint Journal found that partial knee replacements led to quicker recovery, shorter hospital stays, and better function in the first two years after surgery compared to total knee replacements.

Long-term data also looks promising. The Oxford Group published in Lancet (2019) that at 10 years, partial knee replacements had high success rates — over 90% survived without needing further surgery. Even more telling, these patients often returned to sports and low-impact activities faster than those who had a total knee replacement.

And what about safety?A study in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery in 2020 found that partial knee replacement patients had fewer complications — including less bleeding and a lower risk of blood clots — when compared to total knee replacements.

🏆 Benefits of Partial Knee Resurfacing

• Preserves natural knee movement and feel

• Smaller incision and less pain after surgery

• Quicker recovery and faster return to sports and daily life

• Less blood loss and shorter hospital stay

• Easy to revise if a total knee replacement is ever needed in the future

⚖️ When is Total Knee Replacement Still a Better Choice?

If all three compartments of the knee are affected by arthritis or you have significant deformity or stiffness, total knee replacement remains the best option. Total knee replacements have a long track record — over 90% last more than 15–20 years (New England Journal of Medicine, 2017) — making them a very reliable choice for advanced arthritis.

🤔 What Should You Do Next?

If you’re dealing with persistent knee pain and wondering if you need a total knee replacement — you might not!

• ✅ Book a consultation with us at Wessex Knee.

• ✅ Bring along your scans so we can review them together.

• ✅ Together, we’ll craft a plan that matches your anatomy, goals, and lifestyle.

Your knee pain doesn’t have to control you — let’s help you get back to enjoying the life you deserve.

References for the curious:

• Beard DJ et al. The Lancet. 2019.

• Liddle AD et al. The Bone & Joint Journal. 2019.

• Carr AJ et al. NEJM. 2017.

• Peersman G et al. JBJS Am. 2020.

💬 Contact Us at Wessex Knee to explore partial knee resurfacing as a solution tailored just for you.

Modulating KNee Pain - When to operate

Introduction: Knee Pain is Common – But When is Surgery the Right Answer?

Knee pain is one of the most common complaints I see in my clinic. From avid sportspeople to those simply trying to enjoy a walk with the dog, it can seriously impact your lifestyle. The big question most people have is: “When do I need an operation?”

Here at Wessex Knee, my special interests lie in sports knee injuries, partial knee replacement, and patellar resurfacing — all targeted treatments designed to ease pain, protect function, and let you stay active.

✅ First Steps: Modulating the Pain

Before jumping into surgery, most people can manage knee pain with a personalized plan:

• Physiotherapy and targeted exercises – Strengthening the muscles around the knee can help offload painful joint surfaces.

• Weight management – Reducing weight can decrease pressure across the knee joint by up to 4–6 times your body weight with each step (Messier et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2013).

• Activity modification – Avoid high-impact activities that flare pain; switch to cycling or swimming for fitness.

• Medications and injections – Anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections, or newer therapies like platelet-rich plasma or Arthrosamid can help control inflammation.

In most cases, these strategies help delay or even prevent surgery — and that’s always my first aim.

🏥 When Should You Consider Surgery?

Despite these conservative measures, some knees simply won’t play ball anymore.The most common signs you might need surgical intervention are:

• Pain that wakes you up at night.

• Significant swelling and stiffness limiting your daily life.

• Mechanical symptoms like locking or giving way.

• Failed physiotherapy and injections after 3–6 months.

• Imaging confirming structural damage, such as cartilage wear or bone-on-bone arthritis (Felson et al. NEJM. 2000).

When the knee joint is damaged beyond repair, procedures like partial knee replacement or patellar resurfacing offer highly targeted solutions. Unlike full replacements, these allow you to keep as much of your natural knee as possible, resulting in faster recovery and a more ‘normal-feeling’ knee.

💡 The Latest Evidence

Recent peer-reviewed research supports this selective surgical approach:

• A 2022 review in Bone & Joint Journal showed partial knee replacements deliver better function and quicker return to sport compared to total knee replacements for isolated wear.

• Patellar resurfacing, especially in active patients with anterior knee pain, reduces pain and improves outcomes long-term (Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc., 2019).

🤔 What Can You Do Now?

If you’ve tried physiotherapy, exercises, weight loss, and injections but are still struggling with knee pain that holds you back, it might be time to speak to a knee specialist.

Your next step is simple:

• 📞 Book a consultation at Wessex Knee so we can assess you properly.

• 📝 Bring a list of your current treatments and X-rays if you have them.

• 🏃‍♂️ Be ready to plan a tailored strategy together — often that’s physiotherapy or injections first, and then surgery if it’s truly needed.

And remember — my job is to help you keep moving, pain-free, whether that’s chasing after your grandchildren or chasing your next personal best on the bike!

Conclusion:Knee pain doesn’t have to control your life. By understanding when to modulate and when to intervene surgically — guided by evidence and personal goals — we can get you back to doing what you love.

If you’d like to explore your options, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at Wessex Knee for a friendly, expert opinion.

– Mr. Frame, Consultant Knee Surgeon

Introducing Arthrosamid®

Introducing Arthrosamid®: A Groundbreaking Injectable Treatment Now Available at Wessex Knee

At Wessex Knee, we’re always looking for the latest, most effective ways to help you live an active, pain-free life. That’s why we’re excited to announce our newest service — the Arthrosamid® injectable hydrogel treatment, now available under the expert care of Mr Mark Frame, our consultant orthopaedic knee surgeon with over 11 years’ experience.

So, what is Arthrosamid® — and why is it such a breakthrough for knee osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis of the knee affects millions worldwide, causing pain, stiffness, and limiting everyday activities like walking, climbing stairs, or simply standing up. Traditional treatments like painkillers, steroid injections, or physiotherapy sometimes provide only temporary relief, and surgery can be a daunting step.

Arthrosamid® changes that landscape. It’s a unique, non-biodegradable polyacrylamide hydrogel injected directly into the knee joint. Unlike steroid or hyaluronic acid injections that often last a few months, Arthrosamid® integrates permanently into the joint lining — cushioning, supporting, and reducing inflammation for years after just one injection.

Clinical studies back these claims strongly. In a recent trial, patients reported significant pain relief and improved knee function sustained for up to 10 years, with a safety profile that’s excellent and well-documented (Baer et al., 2021; Overgaard et al., 2024). This means many patients can delay or even avoid knee replacement surgery altogether.

What to expect from the treatment?The procedure is quick, simple, and performed as an outpatient service. After a thorough consultation, the injection itself usually takes less than an hour, with minimal discomfort thanks to local anaesthetic. Most patients go home the same day and experience only mild soreness or stiffness afterward — normal reactions that typically resolve quickly.

The cost of this innovative treatment is £2,950, which includes consultation, the injection, and all follow-up care — a comprehensive package designed to give you peace of mind every step of the way.

At Wessex Knee, Mr Frame combines cutting-edge research with compassionate care. His focus on minimally invasive knee treatments and pioneering use of technology means you’re in expert hands.

If you’re struggling with knee osteoarthritis and looking for a long-lasting, non-surgical solution, Arthrosamid® might be the answer you’ve been waiting for.

Book your consultation with Mr Frame today and take the first step towards a more comfortable, active life.