Knee replacement surgery is one of the most successful surgical options available, with more than 90% of knee replacements still performed 20 years later. It is an option for treating knee pain and stiffness after all other non-surgical treatments fail to relieve symptoms. There are several different types of knee replacement surgery, based on what needs to be repaired.
Total knee replacement surgery
The knee is the largest joint in the body. It connects the femur and shin bones to muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Each bone is covered in protective shock-absorbing cartilage layers. When any of these layers wear down due to arthritis or disease, knee replacement surgery can help relieve pain and improve range of motion.
“Total knee replacement surgery is a surgical resurfacing of the knee joint. Leonard Buller, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in adult hip and knee reconstruction and medical director of orthopedics and sports medicine at IU. Saxony Medical Hospital. “We replace both the inside and the outside of the knee on the femur, shin bone, or patella, patella.”
Candidates for total knee replacement surgery have significant knee pain and have exhausted all non-surgical options for pain relief, such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and injections.
The benefit of total knee replacement is that it eliminates arthritis completely and the patient can get up and walk on the day of surgery. While it is less likely to need additional knee surgery in the future when compared to partial knee replacement, total replacement surgery requires about six weeks longer recovery time.
Partial knee replacement surgery
The knee is made up of three compartments: the inner (middle) compartment, the outer (lateral) compartment, and the patellar (front of the kneecap) compartment. A candidate for partial knee replacement surgery has symptoms of arthritis in one of those compartments. Like total knee replacement surgery, partial replacement reconstructs damaged areas of the knee for smooth movement.
The benefit of partial knee replacement surgery is a faster recovery in four to six weeks. However, the risk of partial surgery is that it may not completely solve your knee problems.
“If you then have pain in another part of your knee, you will need total knee replacement surgery,” says Dr. “Also, partial knee replacement implants don’t last long. The best data we have shows that 90% of these 14 years have a shorter life expectancy than a total knee replacement. However, a portion is a great option for some patients.
Correction of knee replacement surgery
When a knee replacement implant fails, a modified knee replacement surgery repairs the joint. The American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR), the world’s largest joint replacement registry, has identified the top three causes of knee correction: infection, instability, and mechanical loosening .
IU Health Saxony is the Center of Excellence for Hip and Knee Replacement, and Dr. Buller’s team treats the largest number of these surgeries in the state. Because corrective surgery is a more complex procedure than other types of knee surgery, Dr. Buller—an investigative surgeon for the AJRR—recommends patients to find an experienced provider, who can review any other medical issues contributing to knee problems and optimize treatments for a knee surgery. Successful results.
“Pain is often the presenting symptom of a knee requiring surgery, but it is not a diagnosis. Only surgery to relieve pain will likely lead to poor results. Patients should seek out a provider who can identify the source of the pain to address the problem,” said Dr. Buller, who has published research on corrective surgery. “Our team takes a holistic approach to ensure that we are treating the entire patient, not just the knee.”
One way to achieve excellent longevity in knee implants and avoid future revision surgery is through advanced technology such as computer navigation. IU Health Saxony applies computer navigation in all knee replacement surgeries.
“This allows the surgeon to place the implant with the highest possible precision and accuracy,” says Dr. “Studies show this leads to a longer lifespan for implants.”
Minimally invasive surgery
A surgeon trained in minimally invasive surgery will work with you to determine if you are a candidate for this procedure. A minimally invasive procedure can reduce scarring and avoid cutting extra muscle tissue or putting stress on tendons during the procedure, which improves recovery time.
“I apply minimally invasive surgery to all of my patients. But you need to trust that the surgeon will do the right surgery for you without sacrificing quality,” says Dr. “Our goal is long-term knee replacement with the best results, so if you can achieve this with minimal invasiveness and meet those goals, that’s a win.”
The decision to have knee replacement surgery depends on a number of factors, including your symptoms, physical limitations, whether you are healthy enough for surgery, and understanding of the longevity of the implant. Talk to your doctor about your goals and expectations for your surgery to make sure you have the right surgery for your needs.
