Smaller Incision
A traditional knee replacement surgery involves an incision about 8 inches over the front of the knee. There is more significant dissection necessary to complete the procedure compared to the unicompartmental knee surgery. In the minimally invasive partial knee replacement, the incision is about 3 inches, and the amount of dissection and bone removal is much smaller.

Less Blood Loss
Because of the extent of dissection and bone removal necessary for a total knee replacement, the need for a blood transfusion is relatively common. With the unicompartmental knee procedure, a blood transfusion is infrequently needed, and patients do not need to consider giving blood preoperatively.

Shorter Recovery
Both the time in hospital and the time to functional recovery are less with the partial knee replacement. Patients are known to have been discharged on the day of the procedure, although most often patients are discharged on the first or second post-operative day. With traditional total knee replacement, patients seldom leave before three or four days in the hospital, and often require a stay in an in-patient rehabilitation unit.