Specialist Knee Treatment
Unicompartmental Knee Replacement (UKR)
A unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR) resurfaces a single worn compartment of the knee, medial or lateral, through a smaller operation that preserves your ligaments and the rest of your natural joint. Paddy Subramanian offers both medial and lateral UKR.
What is a unicompartmental knee replacement?
The knee has three compartments, and arthritis often wears one of them long before the others. A UKR replaces only that single compartment with a small femoral component and tibial bearing, leaving the cruciate ligaments and the healthy compartments untouched. The result is a smaller operation than a total knee replacement, with less blood loss, a shorter stay, a faster recovery and a knee that generally feels more natural.
Medial and lateral: both offered
Most unicompartmental replacements treat the inner (medial) compartment, where arthritis is most common. Wear confined to the outer (lateral) compartment is rarer and technically more demanding, and many surgeons do not offer a partial option for it at all. Paddy Subramanian is one of the few surgeons offering lateral unicompartmental knee replacement in addition to medial, so suitable patients are not steered towards a total knee replacement simply because their arthritis is on the outer side of the joint.
Am I suitable?
Suitability depends on the pattern of wear on your standing x-rays, the integrity of your ligaments and your range of movement. Careful selection is the key to a successful UKR, and Paddy Subramanian will show you your own imaging and explain honestly whether a medial UKR, a lateral UKR or a total knee replacement will serve you best, including what the registry evidence says about each option.
Surgery and recovery
UKR is performed with robotic assistance where it adds accuracy, and is well suited to the enhanced-recovery pathway: suitable patients can go home the same day. Most patients walk unaided sooner than after a total knee replacement, and many describe the knee as feeling close to normal once rehabilitation is complete.
Read more before you decide
Dr Subramanian has been approachable, professional and allowed me to consider what is a major surgery with confidence. All my questions were answered and I felt involved in the decision making. I am now back on my feet with a neat scar. I would recommend him highly to anyone.
Verified Patient
Hip Replacement, Doctify (August 2026)
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