Knee Replacement Surgery

 

Knee replacement surgery is an option for treating chronic pain and injury in the knee joint.

 

Causes

 

The most common factor leading to knee replacement surgery is arthritis. There are many types of arthritis, but all involve pain and inflammation in the joints. Three types of arthritis are most commonly associated with knee replacement surgeries:

 

  • Osteoarthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease): A condition in which the cartilage surrounding the bones of the knee joint wears down, allowing the bones to rub against each other, resulting in pain, stiffness, and loss in range of motion. Osteoarthritis is most common in people aged 50 and older, but can occur in younger patients too. This is the most common type of arthritis.
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis: A condition in which the membrane surrounding the knee joint becomes inflamed and thickened, causing damage to cartilage and leading to pain and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is relatively common.
  • Post-Traumatic Arthritis: This condition stems from trauma, or injury, to the knee. Bone fractures or ligament tears in the knee can lead to cartilage damage and inflammation associated with arthritis.

 

Are you a candidate for knee replacement surgery?

 

Knee replacement surgery is a viable option for many cases of chronic pain and lack of mobility in the knee. It is essential to be evaluated by a qualified orthopedic doctor in order to make an informed decision, but some general signs that a knee replacement could be an option include:

 

  • Severe, chronic pain that impacts quality of life and inhibits everyday activities, like standing up, climbing stairs, or walking more than a few blocks
  • Restlessness or loss of sleep due to pain or stiffness of the knee
  • Reduced range of motion or weakness of the knee
  • Deformity or swelling in the knee that does not improve with time, rest, or treatment
  • Lack of effectiveness of other treatment options, including medication and physical therapy

 

These symptoms may be improved by a knee replacement, or they may be better addressed using medication, physical therapy, or another procedure - it is important to visit an orthopedic doctor for an individual assessment if you experience the above symptoms.

 

About the procedure

 

There are two types of knee replacement procedures offered at OSMC: total knee arthroplasty (total knee replacement) and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (partial knee replacement).

 

In a total knee replacement, the bones of the knee are essentially “resurfaced” with prosthetic parts. The surgeon removes all of the damaged cartilage and a small amount of bone from the surface of the femur (upper leg) and tibia (lower leg) bones, attaches metal implants to the bones, and inserts a plastic spacer between the two implants to create a smooth-gliding surface. In some cases, the underside of the patella (kneecap) is resurfaced with a plastic button.

 

A unicompartmental knee replacement only replaces the surfaces on one of the 3 compartments of the knee (either the inside or outside parts). This variation of the procedure comes with less pain after surgery and a quicker recovery time, and can be used in some cases when only one part of the knee is damaged. However, opting for a unicompartmental rather than a total knee replacement could mean that more surgery is required down the road if pain and damage develops in the parts of the knee that were not replaced.

 

Recovery

 

Knee replacement surgery typically involves a hospital stay of 1-2 nights, although some unicompartmental knee replacement patients can be discharged on the day after surgery. Your sureon and nurses will monitor your recovery and may administer antibiotics to prevent infections. You and your doctor will discuss options for pain management in the days and weeks immediately following the procedure.

 

Recovery from a knee replacement is a process that lasts several months and calls for a well-planned rehabilitation program. This will likely involve physical therapy as well as at-home exercises.

 

Schedule a consultation

 

If you or a loved one are experiencing chronic pain and lack of mobility in the knees, to the degree that it impacts quality of life, please schedule a consultation to speak with one of our orthopedic surgeons. The symptoms may or may not require a hip replacement procedure, but the first step to recovery is evaluation by a doctor.