Description:

What is a knee replacement?

Knee replacement surgery involves replacing damaged parts of your knee joint with metal or plastic parts.
It's most commonly used to treat pain and stiffness in the knee joint caused by osteoarthritis.
It may be recommended if other treatments or lifestyle changes have not worked and knee pain is affecting your daily life.
Depending on the damage to your knee, it can be used to replace all of your knee joint (total knee replacement) or some of it (partial knee replacement).
You'll have the operation in hospital. It can take several months or more to fully recover afterwards.
Knee replacements can last for 20 years or more and can significantly improve daily life for people with knee pain.

Video: Knee replacement

This animation shows how knee replacement surgery is done and explains why it may be needed.

Media last reviewed: 1 April 2021
Media review due: 1 April 2024

Page last reviewed: 9 March 2023
Next review due: 9 March 2026