Knee Replacement Surgery

A knee replacement procedure is most commonly performed on patients with osteoarthritis, and also for other knee diseases such as psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

In patients with severe deformity from advanced rheumatoid arthritis, trauma, or long-standing osteoarthritis, the surgery may be more complicated and may carry higher risk.

Osteoporosis does not typically cause knee pain, deformity, or inflammation and is not a reason to perform knee replacement.

The knee joint is the largest joint in your body and it is central to nearly every routine activity.

The knee joint is formed by the ends of three bones.

• The Femur or lower end of the thigh bone.
• The Tibia or upper end of the shin bone.
• And the Patella or kneecap.

The ligaments connect the knee bones and stabilize the knee joint. The cartilage covers the end of the knee bones and prevents them from rubbing against each other, allowing for flexible and almost frictionless movement.

Other major causes of debilitating pain include meniscus tears, cartilage defects, and ligament tears. Debilitating pain from osteoarthritis is much more common in the elderly.

Knee replacement surgery can be performed as a partial or a total knee replacement. A knee replacement surgery consists of replacing the diseased or damaged joint surfaces of the knee with metal and plastic components shaped to allow continued motion of the knee.

The procedure typically involves substantial postoperative pain, and includes vigorous physical rehabilitation. The recovery period may be 6 weeks or longer and may involve the use of mobility aids (e.g. walking frames, canes, crutches) to enable the patient's return to preoperative mobility. It is estimated that approximately 82% of total knee replacements will last 25 years.