Knee
If you have a stiff, painful knee that makes it difficult to perform even
the simplest of activities and other treatments are no longer working,
you may want to consider knee surgery. Knee surgery should only be recommended
after careful diagnosis of your joint problem. Other treatment options
include medications, injections, physical therapy or other types of surgery
which may be discussed and considered. This surgery is generally reserved
for people over the age of 50 with severe osteoarthritis.
We Offer Relief
The Anderson Family Orthopedic & Spine Center of Excellence is a leading
provider of partial and total knee replacements. Our team of orthopedic
surgeons brings their expertise combined with innovative techniques to
provide cutting-edge orthopedic surgery. Advances in minimally invasive
techniques and implants have revolutionized knee surgery. Knee replacement
surgery can improve your quality of life and get you back to enjoying
normal everyday activities.
Our comprehensive orthopedic rehabilitation program offers a wide range
of services both pre- and postoperatively, including a preoperative educational
class that helps prepare you for surgery and provides invaluable information
for your recovery. Our team includes surgeons, pain management specialists,
anesthesiologists, nurses and therapists. A dedicated orthopedic and spine
patient navigator is available to all patients to guide you through the
entire process, offering education and support.
- Knee Procedures:
- Partial Knee Resurfacing/Replacement
- Total Knee Replacement
MAKOplasty® Partial Knee Resurfacing and Replacement
MAKOplasty® is a treatment option for those living with early to mid-stage
osteoarthritis in either the medial (inner), patellofemoral (top), or
both compartments of the knee. If osteoarthritis (OA) is present in all
three compartments of the knee, it is considered advanced, and you would
not be a candidate for partial knee resurfacing.
MAKOplasty® is a robotic-assisted partial knee resurfacing procedure
designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to OA. By
selectively targeting the part of your knee damaged by OA, your surgeon
can resurface your knee while sparing the healthy bone and ligaments surrounding it.
A minimally invasive procedure, MAKOplasty® can often be performed
through a 4- to 6-inch incision over the knee with small incisions in
both the femur (thighbone) and tibia (shin). Since healthy bone is preserved,
patients who undergo MAKOplasty® partial knee procedures may still
be a candidate for a total knee replacement procedure later in life, if
necessary.
The MAKOplasty® procedure is indicated for patients suffering from
unicompartmental or bicompartmental knee disease. A total replacement
is sometimes necessary if your surgeon discovers during surgery that your
knee has more damage than originally shown in the preoperative X-rays
and CT scan.
Total Knee Replacement
Sometimes called total knee arthroplasty, total knee replacement is a treatment
option for those who have advanced osteoarthritis in all three compartments
of the knee. A total knee replacement replaces the damaged surfaces in
your knee that bear weight and are causing pain.
- A knee replacement procedure includes:
- Preparing the bone - The damaged cartilage surfaces at the ends of the
femur and tibia are removed along with a small amount of underlying bone.
- Positioning metal implants - The cartilage and bone that is removed is
replaced with metal components that recreate the surface of the joint.
These metal parts may be cemented or "press-fit" into the bone.
- Resurfacing the patella - The undersurface of the patella (kneecap) is
cut and resurfaced with a plastic button. Some surgeons do not resurface
the patella, depending upon the case.
- Inserting a spacer - A medical-grade plastic spacer is inserted between
the metal components, creating a smooth gliding surface.
- Surgery is recommended for many reasons including:
- Severe knee pain or stiffness that limits everyday activities, including,
walking, climbing stairs, and getting in and out of chairs
- Walking more than a few blocks without significant pain and the need to
use a cane or walker
- Moderate or severe knee pain while resting, either day or night
- Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that does not improve with rest
or medications
- Knee deformity - a bowing in or out of the knee
- Failure to substantially improve with other treatments such as anti-inflammatory
medications, cortisone injections, lubricating injections, physical therapy,
or other surgery
There are no absolute age or weight restrictions for total knee replacement
surgery. Recommendations for surgery are based on patients' pain and
disability, not their age. The majority of total knee replacements are
in patients' ages 50 to 80, but each patient is evaluated individually.
Total knee replacements have been performed successfully at all ages,
from the young teenager with juvenile arthritis to the elderly patient
with degenerative arthritis.