It may surprise you that knee replacement is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States, with 745,000 knee replacements performed in only one year, i.e., 2017. It is also considered one of the most successful procedures in the field of medicine.
Whether you are exploring the options for your knee pain or have already decided to have knee replacement surgery, the content given below will help you have a good grasp of this valuable procedure. We will also talk about where you can go for this surgery in Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, FL.
Total Knee Replacement: What is it?
The knee joint is the biggest and one of the most incredible joints that helps us move, stand or keep our balance. It has many moving parts, and we use them a lot, so it’s no wonder that many things can go wrong that may require treatments like knee replacement.
Knee replacement is exactly what its name implies. It is a surgical process in which your damaged or worn-out knee joint is removed, and a new artificial joint is inserted in the place of the damaged (pitted, eroded, or uneven) knee joint.
Why is Total Knee Replacement Done?
The knee is one of the most common joints affected by osteoarthritis – a form of arthritis that slowly but gradually damages the knee cartilage. Though osteoarthritis is common in older adults, younger people can also develop it, possibly after sustaining a knee injury – a condition known as injury-induced arthritis or post traumatic arthritis.
At earlier stages of arthritis, knee pain, stiffness, swelling, and instability get better with noninvasive treatments like medications, physical therapy, and walking support, but if these treatments are no longer helpful and your osteoarthritis has advanced,you will likely be recommended total knee replacement surgery.
TKA also helps people who sustained a severe knee fracture or have a weekend knee joint resulting from an injury or other conditions.
Total knee replacement surgery can eliminate nearly all the reasons you want to have surgery – debilitating knee pain (even at rest), knee joint stiffness, swelling, knee deformity, and inability to walk, climb or put weight on the knee.
How Total Knee Replacement is Done?
For TKA, your orthopedic surgeon will first make an incision in the knee and move your kneecap to the side. If present, they may also remove bony spur (small bony growths). Next, your surgeon will cut away the damaged ends of the tibia (shin bone) and femur (thigh bone).
After that, your orthopedic surgeon will fit the new parts (of an artificial joint) over the ends of the tibia and femur to create the new joint. The new artificial joint may be made of plastic or metal.
If the kneecap is damaged, your surgeon will also remove the back of the kneecap and replace it with an implant (a plastic button).
Lastly, your surgeon will put the kneecap back into its place, close the cut on the knee with clips or stitches,and cover it with dressing.
In some cases, orthopedic surgeonsmay also use robotic technology, like MAKOplasty and Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic (RIO) System, to perform TKA.
Total Knee Replacement Surgery in Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, FL
If you think you or your loved one is a candidate for knee replacement surgery, see our board-certified and exceptionally skilled orthopedic surgeon at Advanced Orthopedic Center.
In addition to the traditional total knee replacement surgery, our exceptionally skilled and experienced knee surgeons also offer MAKOplasty – which uses 3D CT scanner-generated images of the knee to customize your new artificial knee joint – as well as Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic (RIO) System to precisely and accurately remove the damaged joint and place the new artificial joint.
To know if you are a suitable candidate for knee surgery or to schedule a consultation with one of our orthopedic surgeons, call us today at (941) 629-6262 or fill inour online appointment request form.
