Knee replacement

When you have a knee injury or arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis, the damage, inflammation, and pain can limit your ability to flex and extend your knees. Over time, the deterioration of your joint and surrounding tissue can make it difficult to perform basic daily activities, even sitting and lying down. Knee replacement surgery is a common solution for people whose knees have become too worn from this deterioration.

Knee replacement provides dramatic pain relief for more than 90 percent of those who’ve undergone this surgery. Most of these procedures are done to replace knees damaged by osteoarthritis. The procedure was introduced in 1968. Total knee replacement is considered one of the safest and most effective procedures in orthopedics.

During a total knee replacement, a surgeon removes some bone and cartilage from the areas of your thighbone and shin bone, where they meet at your knee joint. The surgeon then replaces the knee area of your thighbone with a metal implant and the knee area of your shinbone with a plastic implant. This gives both bones of your knee joint smooth surfaces again so they can flex and bend more freely and painlessly. In many cases, the surgeon also replaces the undersurface of your kneecap with a plastic coating.

 

Why Would I Need Surgery?

Osteoarthritis is the main reason why people go for knee replacement surgery. The age-related condition is very common and occurs when cartilage -- the cushion between the knee and the bone joints -- breaks down.

Other reasons include:

Rheumatoid arthritis : Rheumatoid arthritis is when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the lining of the knee.
Deformities: People with bowed legs or “knock-knees” often get surgery to restore the position of the knee.
Knee injuries : A broken bone or torn ligaments around the knee sometimes will result in arthritis that causes great pain and limits your movement.
Loss of blood flow: Doctors will recommend surgery if blood stops flowing to the bones (a condition called either osteonecrosis or avascular necrosis).

Different Types of Surgery

There are four main types of knee replacement surgery:

• Total knee replacement. This is the most common form. Your surgeon replaces the surfaces of the thigh bone and shin bone that connects to the knee.
• Partial knee replacement. If arthritis affects only one side of your knee, this surgery may be a possibility. However, it’s only right for you if you have strong knee ligaments. Partial knee replacement can be performed through a smaller cut than is needed for total knee replacement.
• Kneecap replacement. This replaces only the under-surface of the kneecap, but some surgeons advise against this procedure, because total knee replacement surgery has a higher rate of success.
• Complex (or revision) knee replacement. This procedure may be needed if you have very severe arthritis or if you’ve already had two or three knee replacement surgeries.

Knee replacement pain

You’ll have pain for a while after your knee replacement. However, your doctor will give you medication to help manage this. It’s important to let your doctor know how well your medication is working for you. Find out what to expect and ways to manage any pain you may experience after having a knee replacement.