Knee replacement

Your knee is essential to your ability to stand and walk with ease. Knee conditions can lead to loss of mobility, chronic pain and deformity. Our specialists and team members are trained to diagnose and treat your knee-related issues and keep you moving.

Our staff are experienced in providing a variety of nonsurgical and surgical options for caring for your knee condition, including:

• Arthroscopy — A minimally invasive procedure using small incisions and an insertion of a camera by catheter to repair knee joint issues
• Minimally invasive total knee replacement — Using smaller incisions than total knee replacement, this procedure is focused on removing damaged bone and cartilage and the insertion of artificial, plastic components to help rebuild the structures of the knee
• Total knee replacement — This is a surgical procedure in which your surgeon will remove damaged and worn-out surfaces, bone and tissue of the knee joint and replace them with artificial parts. You likely will need physical therapy with specific exercises to help strengthen and restore movement to the leg and knee after knee replacement surgery. You may require crutches or a walker to assist your walking. To help maintain knee flexibility, you may need a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine, a device attached to the leg that constantly moves the joint through a controlled range of motion.
• Viscosupplementation (Synvisc) injection — Viscosupplementation is an injection of hyaluronan, a natural substance found in the joint fluid that aids in lubrication and allows for smooth movement of cartilage over the associated bones of the knee. If you have not had success with other nonsurgical options, this treatment may help reduce symptoms and delay the need for surgery.

Total knee replacement surgery is commonly indicated for severe osteoarthritis of the knee. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of knee arthritis in which the joint cartilage gradually wears away. This often affects older people.

The goal of total knee replacement surgery is to relieve pain and restore the alignment and function of your knee. Your doctor may advise total knee replacement if you have:

• Severe knee pain which limits your daily activities (such as walking, getting up from a chair or climbing stairs)
• Moderate to severe pain that occurs during rest or awakens you at night
• Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that is not relieved with rest or medications
• Failure to obtain pain relief from medications, injections, physical therapy or other conservative treatments
• A bow-legged knee condition