Knee
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Osteoarthritis, or arthritis affecting the joints, is the most common form of arthritis. This joint disease affects more than 32.5 million people in the U.S. and is characterized by the deterioration of cartilage or the soft tissue breakdown between the joints.

Osteoarthritis develops slowly, and the pain increases over time. As it progresses, it affects joint function, causing pain and a reduced ability to fully bend, extend or move affected areas. Joints commonly affected are the hands, hips, knees, feet and lower back. This can lead to pain and discomfort, eventually resulting in bone-on-bone contact.

Unfortunately, osteoarthritis has no cure, so treatment generally focuses on controlling pain and improving joint function with treatment options that are less invasive at first, such as physical therapy, injections and using a cane or walker for support.

However, the disease can become severe and debilitating when nonsurgical treatments lose effectiveness in relieving pain. At that point, joint replacement surgery may be a good option for pain relief and improved joint function.

Age is only one factor to consider when deciding if a joint replacement is the best treatment option. Other factors such as medical history, health status and type of injury must also be considered. An orthopedic specialist can advise you on the best treatment options given your unique symptoms and health history.

During a total knee replacement, the surgeon removes the damaged cartilage and a small amount of underlying bone at the upper ends of the shinbone (tibia) and the lower end of the thigh bone (femur). Then, metal implants are inserted to replace the removed parts of the bone. A plastic spacer is inserted between the metal components to help ensure the surfaces smoothly glide together. Finally, the surgeon resurfaces the underside of the knee cap, also called the patella.

Knee replacements have come a long way in recent years. For example, patients generally begin walking the same day after surgery. In some cases, for patients who are healthy enough, surgery can be completed as an outpatient procedure, which does not require an overnight stay in the hospital. Your doctor can help you determine if you might be a candidate for an outpatient knee replacement.

Curious to know more about knee pain treatment options, including surgery? Watch a 15-minute, on-demand seminar online that covers understanding knee pain treatment options, how knee joint replacement surgery works and indicators that knee replacement surgery could be right for you. You can also request an appointment with one of the providers.

In a partial knee replacement, only a portion of the knee is replaced, as this procedure is designed for patients whose disease is limited to one side of the knee. During surgery, the damaged part of the knee cartilage and bone is removed and replaced with a metal and plastic implant. The healthy cartilage, bone and attached ligaments are preserved. Often, this procedure is completed through an incision much smaller than needed for a total knee replacement, enabling patients to enjoy faster recovery times than typical total knee replacement patients.

Curious to know more about knee pain treatment options, including surgery? Watch a 15-minute, on-demand seminar online that covers understanding knee pain treatment options, how knee joint replacement surgery works and indicators that knee replacement surgery could be right for you. You also can request an appointment with one of the providers.

Depending on the severity of your condition, an orthopedic specialist may recommend a partial or total knee replacement. During recovery, you may need help with housekeeping tasks like laundry, grocery shopping and transportation. Your surgeon will provide specific instructions on what activities you can and cannot do during this time.

You may experience pain and swelling around the incision site the first few days after knee replacement surgery. The swelling and pain should gradually diminish as a natural part of the recovery process. You must use crutches or a walker to keep your weight off your knee. Your physical therapist will help you develop an exercise program to slowly rebuild strength in your knee.

Four to six weeks after surgery, you should notice significant improvements in pain and mobility. However, it usually takes two to three months to recover completely after knee replacement surgery.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that more than 90% of knee replacements still function after 15 years. Another study found 82% of total knee replacements perform well after 25 years.