Total Knee Replacement
Total knee replacement surgery generally involves several steps. The first step is the removal of the damaged bone (femur) and cartilage. Once the femur and the associated cartilage have been cut away, the remaining end of the femur is then remodeled so that the metal end will fit snugly on it. This metal femur component will then be attached to the remaining femur using a special adhesive known as bone cement.
The next step is a similar procedure done on the tibia. The damaged portion of the tibia is cut away and reshaped so that that the other metal end can be attached to it, again using bone cement. This metal end is then fitted with a plate made of plastic which will help with supporting the body's weight as well making sure that the femur and the tibia are able to move smoothly over each other.
Finally, a plastic plate is attached to the back of the patella (the knee cap). This will make sure that the patella is also able to glide smoothly over the new prosthetic joint.
Minimally Invasive Procedure
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the actual procedure for minimally invasive surgery has the same steps as that for a standard total knee replacement. The difference is that it involves much smaller cuts to gain access to the knee, and requires different ways of gaining access to the knee joint. Although this procedure is more complicated than the standard total knee replacement operation and is still being developed, it offers certain advantages. The primary advantage is that because of the smaller cuts, there is less of a risk of infection and damage to the muscles and other tissues around the joint. It is not yet clear if this procedure is more effective or causes fewer complications than the standard knee replacement procedure.
Indications For Knee Replacement
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons says that knee replacement may be recommended for patients with severe pain in their knees that limits them in their daily activities, especially if the pain remains while at rest or while sleeping. This is especially true if the joint is becoming deformed or stiff and if the pain cannot be relieved by standard over-the-counter pain medications. Generally, before a patient has knee replacement surgery, the orthopedist will determine if physical therapy or cortisone shots are able to relieve the knee problems. Minimally invasive surgery is generally only recommended for patients who are not obese and have reasonably good mobility in their affected knee.
