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Knee Replacement


Fletcher Allen’s orthopedic surgical team has more than 50 years of combined experience in knee replacement surgery.  We offer a level of expertise only available with those who have focused specifically on knee joints, performing hundreds of surgeries each year.

Partial Knee Replacement

With partial knee replacement – also known as unicompartmental knee arthroplasty – surgeons replace part of the knee joint, preserving healthy bones and ligaments in other areas of the knee. The procedure is less invasive than total knee replacement, using smaller incisions and resulting in a shorter recovery. It is recommended for patients whose arthritis is confined to a specific area of the joint.   

As a university hospital, Fletcher Allen’s team of orthopedic surgeons offers the most advanced therapies for partial knee replacement.

  • Restoring natural knee motion
    We offer a technique known as unicompartmental knee resurfacing, using a technologically advanced implant designed to restore natural knee motion. The implant recreates the internal shapes and forces within your knee, allowing it to move and feel like a normal knee. 
  • Preserving bone and ligaments
    Fletcher Allen also offers bicompartmental partial knee resurfacing. This involves replacing two of the knee’s three main components. It is designed for patients whose arthritis is limited to those two components. This method preserves the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL and PCL), as well as a good deal of healthy bone in the knee. 

Total Knee Replacement

If non-surgical methods and ther types of surgery are not successful, your doctor may recommend total knee replacement. Total knee replacement surgery involves removing diseased bone and tissue and implanting a complete, artificial knee joint. 

  • Demand for knee replacement growing
    As the Baby Boomer generation navigates middle age, more and more people are opting for total knee replacement. Hundreds of thousands of knee replacements are performed each year in the United States.

  • Experienced providers
    At Fletcher Allen, patients have the confidence of working with highly trained and experienced providers. In addition, improvements in surgical techniques and technology have increased the procedure’s effectiveness.

  • Excellent results
    Results of total knee replacement nationwide have been shown to be generally excellent. Patients experience significant pain relief and improved physical functioning.  According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, most artificial knee joints have a 90 percent success rate 10 years after surgery.

  • Extending the knee’s lifespan
    Selected implants contain low-friction materials designed to extend the lifespan of the implant.     

New Knee Implant Now Available for Knee Replacement Surgery

Fletcher Allen orthopedic surgeons are the only providers in Vermont offering Smith & Nephew’s LEGION Cruciate Retaining Knee implant with VERILAST Knee Technology. Learn More.