Knee Replacement Surgery
Knee replacement surgery or Knee arthroplasty helps in relieving pain and restoring function in severe knee joint disease and complications. This is the procedure where the damaged bone is cut and getting the cartilage eliminated from the thighbone, kneecap, or shinbone and then replacing them with a prosthesis (joint) that could be made of high-grade plastics, metal alloys, or polymers.
An orthopedic surgeon can suggest if you need a knee replacement by evaluating your knee strength, stability, and range of motion. Before the surgery, some tests and X-rays are conducted to determine the extent of the damage. The doctor will select surgical techniques according to the patientโs knee size and shape, age, weight, and overall health.
Who are the best candidates for Knee Replacement Surgery?
The surgical treatment becomes an option in severe cases when the following non-operative options fail:
- Activity modification
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Joint injections
ย Surgical options become important when:
- The medications and other non-operative methods fail to relieve the pain
- Severe deformity in the joint so much affecting the daily activities of the patient
- Instability of the knee joint
- Reduced range of motion of the joint
Procedure
Total joint replacement removes/scrapes the worn surface of the joint and replaces it with an implant. The femoral (thigh bone) and tibial (leg bone) components are made up of a metal alloy that covers the end of these bones. The insert or spacer that is put between the two metal components will serve as a cushion. The patella (knee cap) is replaced with a special polyethylene.