FAQ

KNEE

This surgery is intended for people with severe knee damage, due to injury or to arthritis-related deterioration of the joint. Knee replacement can relieve pain and allow you to be more active. Your doctor may recommend it if you have persistent knee pain, and medicine and other treatments are not helping you anymore.

During knee replacement surgery, the surgeon removes the damaged bone and cartilage of the joint and replaces it with smooth, artificial implants—thereby eliminating painful bone-on-bone contact.

There are several reasons why your doctor may recommend knee replacement surgery. People who benefit from knee replacement surgery often have:

  • Knee pain that limits everyday activities, such as walking or bending
  • Knee pain that continues while resting, either day or night
  • Stiffness in a knee that limits the ability to move or bend the leg
  • Inadequate pain relief from anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy or walking supports

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reports that more than 600,000 knee replacements are performed each year in the United States.1

Even better news is that the U.S. Department of Health and Human services considers total knee replacement to be one of the most successful and cost-effective interventions in medicine. In fact, the success rate for knee replacements 10 years after surgery is 90—95%.1

Total knee replacement

Total knee replacement (sometimes shortened to TKR) is a surgical procedure to replace the ends of the femur and the tibia that have been damaged by osteoarthritis or other conditions, with prosthetic devices that duplicate the motion and weight-bearing abilities of the original joint.

Partial knee replacement

A partial knee replacement (also known as unicompartmental, or UKR) may be recommended if arthritic damage is confined to only one area of your knee. Because a partial knee replacement doesn’t extend across the entire joint, the damaged portion of the knee is replaced while the supporting ligaments vital to knee stability may be spared.

Minimally invasive knee surgery

Whether you are having a total or a partial knee replacement, you may be a candidate for what’s known as minimally invasive surgery. This surgical technique uses specially designed instruments that help minimize disruption of the soft tissues in the joint during your surgery, with the aim of reducing post-operative pain and speeding the recovery process. A primary cause of post-surgical pain is the swelling that occurs any time the soft tissue of the body is cut or otherwise manipulated. Minimally invasive surgery may also result in a smaller incision scar.

The only way to know if you are a candidate for a total knee replacement is to talk to an orthopedic surgeon who can review your specific situation.

  • Age – Most patients who decide to have total knee replacement surgery are between the ages of 50 and 80.1
  • Safety – Total knee replacement is one of the most successful procedures in all of medicine.1 OXINIMUM total knee implants can help relieve pain and restore motion but may not feel exactly the same as your natural knee.
  • Timing – Surgery shouldn’t be your first treatment option. If knee pain limits your everyday activities, like walking, climbing stairs or even resting, it’s time to talk to your doctor about all your treatment options.

Whether your surgery is carried out in a hospital or an outpatient surgery center, the general steps of the recovery process will be similar. The most important thing you can do after knee surgery to improve your chances of a successful outcome is follow your medical team’s instructions and let them know right away about any unexpected issues you’re having right away. While every patient’s recovery can be different, you should be able to resume most normal activities of daily living within 3 to 6 weeks following surgery.1

Each patient’s recovery is unique and will be determined by your doctor based on your symptoms, injury pattern, unique anatomy, medical history, and individual treatment requirements. Not all patients will have the same surgical procedure or timelines for rehabilitation.

All surgery has the potential for complications. You should talk to your surgeon about these concerns before deciding what treatment is right for you. Some possible risks associated with total knee replacement include:

  • Blood clotting (thrombophlebitis) – Venous thromboembolism (VTE), also known as blood clots, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), can occur after surgery and can restrict the flow of blood clots and oxygen throughout your body. There are measures, such as medication and exercises your medical team may use to help avoid blood clots.
  • Infection – Although doctors, nurses and technicians take great precautions before, during and after surgery to avoid infection, it can occur. If a significant infection should occur, additional surgery and/or removal of the knee implant may be necessary.
  • Pneumonia – Many patients wake up from anesthesia feeling weak and sore. As a result, they may also find it uncomfortable to breathe deeply. However, if you don’t inhale and exhale fully, fluids could pool in your lungs, causing congestion or pneumonia. Your medical team may offer recommendations to minimize the risk.
  • Long term pain & knee stiffness – While the great majority of patients experience a steady reduction of pain after their surgery, a small number of people report that pain persists over a longer-term after knee replacement surgery. In rare cases, the mobility of your knee following surgery may be significantly restricted and cause stiffness during walking or other daily activities. Your medical team can provide treatments to help you achieve maximum range of motion following surgery.
  • Nerve or vascular complications – It’s uncommon but possible for nerves or blood vessels in the area around the knee to be damaged during surgery.
  • Implant wear or failure – The design of knee implants and materials are improving all the time. However, it is possible for the implant surfaces to wear down or the parts to loosen over time. In some cases, another surgery might be needed to correct or replace the implant.
    In some cases, you may need additional surgery to address a complication.

Important safety notes: Individual results of joint replacement vary. Implants are intended to relieve joint pain and improve function, but may not produce the same feel or function as your original knee. There are potential risks with joint replacement surgery such as loosening, wear and infection that may result in the need for additional surgery. Patients should not perform high impact activities such as running and jumping unless their surgeon tells them that the bone has healed and these activities are acceptable. Early device failure, breakage or loosening may occur if a surgeon’s limitations on activity level are not followed.

Dr. Michael Lawson Swank

Michael Lawson Swank, MD is an Orthopedic Surgeon with Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine specializing in Computer Assisted Minimally Invasive Hip and Knee Surgery in Cincinnati, OH. He is the President and Medical Director of Cincinnati Orthopaedic Research Institute and Medical Director of Musculoskeletal Research.

Your Coach For Elite Care.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame, through its affiliate, Hall of Fame Health, has developed an Elite Care Center program where you can get advanced joint replacement and orthopaedic care services from top-tier surgeons. This is the same high level of treatment and care that former pro football players receive.

MORE NATURAL MOTION

Smith+Nephew spent years developing the JOURNEY◊ II Total Knee System because they know that you want a knee that feels normal after knee replacement surgery. Its unique design may offer a smoother recovery, improved function and higher patient satisfaction.

DURABILITY MATTERS

More than a decade of development, went into Smith+Nephew’s exclusive OXINIUM◊ Oxidized Zirconium metal alloy. This unique metal is designed to help your new knee implant stand up to the daily wear-and-tear your active life demands.

A UNIQUE PLAN

By taking all the necessary measurements and making all the calculations in advance, robotics-assisted surgery using the CORI◊ Surgical System helps your surgeon to plan your specific surgery in a virtual, 3D environment – before any bone is cut. Then, when it’s time to make the cuts, the system then helps your surgeon perform your surgery according to the plan.