Knee replacement

Knee replacement:
Knee replacement is a surgical procedure that decreases pain and improves the quality of life in many patients with severe arthritis of the knees. Typically, patients undergo this surgery after non-operative treatments (such as activity modification, anti-inflammatory medications, or knee joint injections) have failed to provide relief of arthritic symptoms. Surgeons have performed knee replacements for over three decades, generally with excellent results; most reports have ten-year success rates in excess of 90 percent.

Broadly speaking, there are two types of knee replacements: total knee replacements and minimally-invasive partial knee replacements (mini knee). Both have long “track records” and good clinical results in this country and in Europe.

Traditional total knee replacement involves a 7-8” incision over the knee, a hospital stay of 3-5 days, and a recovery period (during which the patient walks with a walker or cane) typically lasting from one to three months. The large majority of patients report substantial or complete relief of their arthritic symptoms once they have recovered from a total knee replacement.

Partial knee replacements have been around for decades and offer excellent clinical results, just like total knee replacements. Less invasive techniques are available to insert these smaller implants, but only a minority of knee replacement patients (about 10%) are good candidates for this procedure.