Partial knee replacement surgery removes damaged tissue and bone in the knee joint. The areas are replaced with a man-made implant, called a prosthetic.

Before surgery, you will be given medicine that blocks pain (anesthesia). You will have one of two anesthesia types:

• General anesthesia. You will be asleep and pain-free during the procedure.
• Regional (spinal or epidural) anesthesia. You will be numb below your waist. You will also get medicines to make you relax or feel sleepy.

The surgeon will make a cut over your knee. This cut is about 3 to 5 inches long.

• Next, the surgeon looks at the entire knee joint. If there is damage to more than one part of your knee, you may need a total knee replacement. Most of the time this is not needed, because tests done before the procedure would have shown this damage.
• The damaged bone and tissue are removed.
• A part made from plastic and metal is placed into the knee.
• Once the part is in the proper place, it is attached with bone cement.
• The wound is closed with stitches.