Total Knee Replacement

Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Medical Editor: Dennis Lee, MD

• What is a total knee replacement?
• What patients should consider a total knee replacement?
• What are the risks of undergoing a total knee replacement?
• What is involved with the preoperative evaluation for total knee replacement?
• What happens in the postoperative period?
• How does the patient continue to improve as an outpatient after discharge from the hospital?
• Total Knee Replacement At A Glance
• Patient Discussions: Total Knee Replacement - Describe Your Experience

Featured patient discussions on total knee replacement "I had total knee replacement on my right knee in November of 2007. I went into a semi-coma right after. When I woke up five days later, I thought I was on the mend. However, now I still use a cane, my leg is very stiff and sometimes so painful I can hardly walk. I have had numerous therapy sessions. My pain is worse than before. My doctor did an X-ray, and now he tells me my tibia has a hairline fracture and we do not know how or why. The fracture is nearly 2 inches long. How this happened we do not know." Read all total knee replacement comments » Top Searched Total Knee Replacement Terms: risks, arthritis, joint pain, physical therapy Patient Discussions are not a substitute for professional medical advice, or treatment. See the disclaimer at the bottom of the comments page.

What is a total knee replacement?

A total knee replacement is a surgical procedure whereby the diseased knee joint is replaced with artificial material. The knee is a hinge joint which provides motion at the point where the thigh meets the lower leg. The thigh bone (or femur) abuts the large bone of the lower leg (tibia) at the knee joint. During a total knee replacement, the end of the femur bone is removed and replaced with a metal shell. The end of the lower leg bone (tibia) is also removed and replaced with a channeled plastic piece with a metal stem. Depending on the condition of the kneecap portion of the knee joint, a plastic "button" may also be added under the kneecap surface.

The posterior cruciate ligament is a tissue that normally stabilizes each side of the knee joint so that the lower leg cannot slide backward in relation to the thigh bone. In total knee replacement surgery, this ligament is either retained, sacrificed, or substituted by a polyethylene post. Each of these various designs of total knee replacement has its benefits and risks.

Total Knee Replacement - Describe Your Experience

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