Total Knee Replacement & You

You may want to consider total knee replacement if you have tried everything else to no avail. If cortisone injections, bracing devices, assistive devices and modification of your level of activity have not worked to reduce your knee pain, total knee replacement surgery may be just what the doctor ordered to help you become an active participant in your life once more.

If you are having problems with knee pain while performing ADL (activities of daily living) from resting and relaxing to climbing stairs, you will surely want to consider taking some positive action to resolve your difficulty.

Total knee replacement is the treatment of choice for this kind of pain and inconvenience. You know it is safe because it has been practiced successfully since 1968. During that time, the methods and materials used for this popular operation have just gotten better and better. In the United States, alone, there are over 581,000 knee replacement surgeries performed every year.

Have you spoken with your orthopedic surgeon about knee replacement yet, or are you just starting to think about it? Either way, you are sure to find useful information in this article.

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What Are Knees Made Of?

The shin bone, the knee cap, and the thigh bone are the main components of the knee. In medical terminology, these are called the tibia, the patella, and the femur. Your knee is in almost constant use, and it is the largest joint in your body. For these reasons, you are highly likely to injure your knee or experience some wear and tear at some point in your life.

The bones of the knee are held together and stabilized by ligaments. These are called the medial and lateral collateral ligaments and the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments.

The muscles of the thigh also play a strong part in the strength and stability of the knee. Strong thigh muscles mean strong knees.

Articular cartilage forms a pad between the bones of the knee. This pad keeps the bones separated and allows them to move without grinding against each other. With this smooth cushioning your knee can move smoothly and easily. Additionally, the knee comes equipped with natural shock absorbers called the lateral menisci. These are semicircular, fibrous cartilage rings that add stability to the overall structure.

All of the bones of the knee are lined with synovial membrane. This thin, smooth tissue makes a special lubricant that keeps all of the parts of the knee operating smoothly.

All of these parts should work well together and give you a lifetime of painless service. However, because the knee is the most used and most often injured joint in the body, this is often not the case. An injury or illness such as arthritis can throw this delicate balance off. This can cause you loss of mobility and strength, as well as a great deal of pain.

Generally speaking, knee replacement surgery is done in patients ranging in age from sixty to eighty. However, this is not set in stone. Your orthopedic surgeon will look at your disability and your level of pain to determine whether or not you would be a good candidate for total knee replacement surgery. This surgery has been successful in people of all ages – ranging from very young teens with juvenile arthritis, to the very elderly with degenerative arthritis.

Dr. Tarlow is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon with over 20 years specializing in knee surgery. He opened his own clinic, Advanced Knee Care, with a focus on specialty patient care. Click here to learn more about Dr. Tarlow, knee surgeon and ACL reconstruction.

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