What is a total knee replacement?

A total knee replacement is a surgical procedure to replace the badly damaged parts of your knee joint with metal and plastic parts. The procedure offers hope for people who have severe chronic knee pain because it can allow them to return to their normal activities without pain. 

When might I need a knee replacement? 

You might need a total knee replacement if: 

• Your pain isn’t improving or is worsening
• Knee pain occurs at night and at rest
• Knee pain disrupts your daily activities
• Medication doesn’t relieve your pain
• Weight loss and lifestyle changes don’t ease your pain
• Minimally invasive treatments don’t provide lasting relief

Total knee replacement surgery is generally a last resort for people who’ve tried every other option. The vast majority of people who undergo total knee replacement surgery have late-stage osteoarthritis, a disease that destroys the cartilage on the ends of the bones. 

A few less common reasons for knee replacement include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and avascular necrosis (bone death due to poor circulation around the bone). 

What happens during a knee replacement?

During a knee replacement, you receive anesthesia, so you won’t feel any pain during the procedure. Your Dearborn and Livonia Orthopedics & Sports Medicine provider creates an incision in the front of your knee and then shifts the kneecap to access the joint. 

Then, they remove damaged cartilage and a small amount of bone, leaving the healthy bone intact. Next, they reshape the bone to prepare it for the new components. Your provider positions the new components to ensure an ideal fit. They may place bone cement on the ends of your bones to secure the parts of your joint replacement. 

Your surgeon places three or more parts to complete your knee joint replacement:

Femoral part

The femoral part is a metal component that restores the end of your femur (your upper leg bone). 

Tibial part

The tibial part is a flat metal component that restores the end of your tibia (lower leg bone). 

Plastic spacer

The plastic spacer fits between the femoral and tibial parts, which allows them to move together smoothly. 

Additionally, some people also need a patellar component, a dome-shaped plastic shell to cover the back of the kneecap.

With all the parts of the joint replacement positioned properly, your provider moves the joint in a variety of ways to test its range of motion and make sure it moves smoothly. 

Finally, your provider places small stitches to close the incision.

How long is the recovery after a total knee replacement?

Most people can get back to the majority of their regular activities within three to six weeks following a total knee replacement. To recover within this time frame, you need to participate in physical therapy according to the schedule that Dearborn and Livonia Orthopedics & Sports Medicine recommends. 

To schedule your knee replacement consultation, call Dearborn and Livonia Orthopedics & Sports Medicine or book an appointment online now.