What is Knee Replacement Surgery?

A knee replacement is a surgical procedure involving the replacement of the faulty knee joint with a prosthetic. During a total knee replacement, the end of the femur bone is removed and replaced with a metal shell. The end of the lower leg bone (tibia) is also removed and replaced with a plastic piece containing a metal stem. Depending on the condition of the kneecap portion of the knee joint, a plastic "button" may also be added under the kneecap surface.

A Good Candidate for Knee Replacement Surgery

Good candidates for knee replacement surgery include patients who may be suffering from the following symptoms:

· Severe knee pain that limits their everyday activities, including walking, climbing stairs, and getting in and out of chairs

· Patients who may find it hard to walk more than a few blocks without significant pain or need to use a cane.

· Moderate or severe knee pain while resting, either day or night

· Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that does not improve with rest or medications

· Knee deformity: a bowing in or out of your knee

· Knee stiffness: inability to bend and straighten your knee

· Failure to obtain pain relief from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

· These medications, including aspirin and ibuprofen, often are most effective in the early stages of arthritis. Their effectiveness in controlling knee pain varies greatly from person to person. These drugs may become less effective for patients with severe arthritis

· Failure to substantially improve with other treatments such as cortisone injections, physical therapy, or other surgeries

Knee Replacement Surgery Procedure

Knee replacement surgery requires general anesthesia. Once you are under general sedate, an 8-12 inch incision is made in the front of the knee. The damaged part of the joint is removed from the surface of the bones; the surfaces are shaped to hold a metal or plastic artificial joint. The artificial joint is attached to the thigh bone, shin and knee cap either with cement or a special material. When fit together, the attached artificial parts form a joint, relying on the surrounding muscles and ligaments for support and function.

Risks and Side Effects of Knee Replacement Surgery

Risks and Side Effects include:

· Your knee will feel sore and may be swollen for up to twelve months.

· You will have a scar over the front of the knee.

· You may not have any feeling in the skin around your scar. This can be permanent.

Recovery from Knee Replacement Surgery

After your replacement surgery, your assigned orthopedic surgeon will place you in physical therapy on the day of the surgery or within the next few days after your surgery. Patients are encouraged to walk and exercise with the help of the physical therapist. In addition, the patient’s own level of motivation and enthusiasm for recovery are very important elements in determining the ultimate outcome.

Results of Knee Replacement Surgery

Doctors recommend that patients, who seek knee replacement surgery results, continue to stay active after surgery without overdoing it. You should notice a gradual improvement and a gradual increase in your endurance over 6 to 12 months. There will be guidelines that are generally applicable.