Total Knee Replacement

Total knee replacement (knee arthroplasty) is a surgery that is performed for severe degenerative disease of the knee joint. More than 542,000 people undergo the procedure each year.  Minimally invasive total knee replacement involves the use of a smaller incision than the one used in traditional knee replacement. In the traditional method, the incision averages 8 to 10 inches in length.

In minimally invasive knee surgery, the incision is only 4 to 6 inches long. Because there is less damage to the tissue around the knee, patients who undergo this procedure may expect a shorter hospital stay, a shorter recovery, and a better looking scar. Knee replacement is the resurfacing of the worn out surfaces of the knee and replacing the lost cartilage and diseased bone with metal and plastic. Knees wear out for a variety of reasons, including inflammation from arthritis, injury, or simple wear and tear.

Arthritis can run in families. Most knee arthritis is due to a lifetime of wear and tear. Nobody knows why some people get severe arthritis, while others don’t, or why arthritis can occur in one knee and not the other. Previous injury and obesity are some known causes of arthritis. Knee arthritis leads to pain, which often happens with activity. The knee can also hurt at rest. Patients often find it difficult to climb or go down stairs, walk distances, or get up from low seats. Patients may also have swelling about the knee, stiffness, or a feeling of looseness.