Dr. Gens Goodman, DO
Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery

KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY

 Total knee replacement surgery has become a common orthopaedic procedure in the United States. Knee replacements are performed to alleviate conditions caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fractures, congenital deformities, and other knee-related problems. The surgery involves replacing the damaged surfaces of the knee. The weight bearing surfaces of the femur and tibia are removed and replaced with metal and polyethylene (plastic). The implants can be made from different materials, but is usually metal, plastic or ceramic

.Lastly, the early benefits of knee replacements are excellent. In most uncomplicated cases, patients can expect to be relatively pain-free, have full knee mobility, and walk with minimal or no limp 2 months after surgery. The operation usually takes about 1-2 hours, much less time than many other surgical procedures. For most patients, the hospital stay is usually 1 to 2 days. For younger, more active patients the hospital stay can be shorter.

 PRIMARY TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT

Patients frequently ask, “What exactly is a total knee replacement?” The simplest answer is that it is a replacement of the worn and arthritic surfaces of the knee joint. We often tell our patients that a total knee replacement is similar to resurfacing a road full of potholes. In this procedure all parts of the joint that contact each other as the knee bends are covered with an artificial surface.  With arthritis, the cartilage covering the ends of the bone within the knee joint is badly worn. In a knee replacement, the damaged cartilage, along with a very small amount of bone, is removed with precise guides and instruments. The knee replacement implant, which is made of metal and plastic, is then fitted to the bone to provide an artificial surface that eliminates pain. In this operation little bone is actually removed; it is better to think of the procedure as a refinishing of the knee surfaces.