Knee Replacement

Knee replacement surgery is a treatment for pain and disability in the knee. The most common condition that results in the need for knee replacement surgery is osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage. People with severe degenerative joint disease may be unable to do normal activities that involve bending at the knee, such as walking or climbing stairs, because they are painful. The knee may swell or "give-way" because the joint is not stable.

Other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis that results from a knee injury, may also lead to degeneration of the knee joint. Fractures, torn cartilage, and/or torn ligaments may also lead to irreversible damage to the knee joint.

Some medical treatments for degenerative joint disease may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate
• Pain medications
• Limiting painful activities
• Assistive devices for walking (such as a cane)
• Physical therapy
• Cortisone injections into the knee joint
• Viscosupplementation injections (to add lubrication into the joint to make joint movement less painful)
• Weight loss (for obese persons)

If medical treatments are not satisfactory, knee replacement surgery may be an effective treatment. Knee replacement, also called arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure to resurface a knee damaged by arthritis. Metal and plastic parts are used to cap the ends of the bones that form the knee joint, along with the kneecap.