When is total knee replacement surgery indicated?
Total knee replacement surgery is an option for patients who suffer from severe knee arthritis and have exhausted other treatment options. When pain and decreased mobility significantly affect your quality of life, it may be time to consider a knee replacement. You should make an appointment to discuss surgery and other treatment options with an orthopaedic surgeon. The total knee replacement procedure is major surgery. When it is performed, thin portions of bone and cartilage on the end of the thigh bone (femur) and top of the shin bone (tibia) are cut and removed. This damaged tissue and bone is replaced with artificial knee replacement implants made of metal and plastic. When the new implants are placed, the smooth metal and plastic, takes the place of the rough cartilage and bone, you no longer walk on those damaged surfaces, and your pain is relieved. The more we can accurately restore your normal knee anatomy, the more the new implant acts like a resurfacing and not a replacement
