Partial & Total Knee Replacement
If you’re experiencing knee pain at night, pain at rest or pain going up and down the stairs, it's generally pain that's unrelieved by conservative management like injections and anti-inflammatories.
Frequently, degenerative conditions such as arthritis result in increasing deformity in a person's knee, causing them to become either more knocked-in (valgus) or bowed-out (varus) over time. As the knee degenerates, the cartilage surfaces wear away—not only the white shiny cartilage from the end of the bones but also the meniscus, which acts as a shock absorber. Common conditions associated with knee pain are meniscal injuries ligament tears and arthritis. The difference between them is meniscal injuries and ligament injuries are generally acute in nature. That is, you feel something happen and then you experience pain very commonly localized in one area. Arthritis pain tends to be more of a general and may be localized on one side of the knee but it is a pain characterized by a slower onset. Additionally, arthritis pain lasts longer and doesn't have the ebbs and flows in terms of how you feel it. Symptoms that lead to total knee replacements can be generally classified as pain and swelling. The pain you're experiencing is due to either arthritis or cartilage deterioration within the joint.
Treatment
During a knee replacement, the arthritic ends of the bone are cut away and replaced with metal and plastic. The components are cemented into place with cement that cures in about 10 to 15 minutes. During a total/full knee replacement, all of the components of the knee are replaced. During a partial knee replacement, only the affected part of the knee is replaced and the remaining knee is left intact. At Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists, we offer both traditional and robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery.
The advantage of having a total knee replacement is principally eliminating the pain. Secondary, and a very important advantage, is restoring the mechanical axis of the extremity. For example, you will be able to go up and down the stairs easily and get up out of a chair without pain.
Following a total knee replacement you can expect your pain to be relieved. There may be some tightness and occasional aches and pains following knee replacement surgery but you can do the things that you avoided because your knee hurt before surgery.
You will be able to return to your favorite sports and activities including walking, hiking and playing golf.
Who is a Candidate for Knee Replacement?
Patients who have bone-on-bone arthritis of the knee and are no longer responding to conservative measures become joint replacement surgery candidates. Conservative measures can include anti-inflammatories, use of a cane or walker, injections, weight-loss, arthroscopic surgery, and simple measures like heat or icing. When these measures no longer help, the impact on your activity increases and your quality of life goes down: that is when you become a good candidate for joint replacement. Patients that do the best with joint replacement surgery have three things in common. First, they all have bone-on-bone arthritis. Bone-on-bone arthritis is painful because the nerves in the bone are exposed and grate against each other. Secondly, they have disability in their lives because of the arthritic joint. They have an increasingly difficult time doing activities that are important, like working, activities of daily living, exercising, or being independent in the community. Lastly, we need confirmation that the arthritis in your knee is bad enough for it to be improved with a prosthetic joint. This is confirmed with an X-ray, MRI, or arthroscopy. When these three factors are present, we can expect the absolute best outcome from joint replacement surgery.
Knee replacement surgery is a unique experience for everyone. We understand that joint replacement surgery is challenging, but don’t want patients to get discouraged. Our team is ready to help patients succeed and we encourage patients to rely on us during the recovery process. It's taken a long time for the condition to deteriorate, so it may take time to recover. Most patients are pleased with their outcome after 6 – 12 weeks, but it will take an entire year for a full recovery.
What is a Partial Knee Replacement?
Partial knee replacement surgery, also called a unicompartmental knee replacement, is used to treat severe arthritis of the knee. Partial knee replacement candidates typically have less deformity and must have limited arthritic changes. A partial knee replacement surgery requires a smaller incision and allows for quicker recovery time than a total knee replacement.
During a partial knee replacement procedure, your knee doctor will remove only the most damaged areas of cartilage from your knee joint, leaving any healthy parts of your joint for continued use. Then, your doctor will replace the damaged parts of your joint with implants placed between the end of your thighbone and the top of your shinbone.
What is a Total Knee Replacement?
With the goal of relieving pain, restoring motion, and straightening your limb, a total knee replacement surgery is used to replace your painful knee joint with an artificial knee prosthesis made of metal and plastic. The artificial knee replacement recreates the normal function of the knee joint.
During total knee replacement surgery, only the surface of your joint is removed. Your knee doctor will remove the arthritic ends of your bones and replace them with new metal and plastic surfaces, which will recreate the normal function of your knee joint. Total knee replacement surgery takes about an hour and a half, whereas a partial knee replacement requires less time. Like any joint replacement procedure, total knee replacement surgery will require ample time for recovery as well as appropriate physical therapy in order to achieve the best results.
Dr. Reichard talks total knee replacement
Dr. Anderson talks total knee replacement
See a Specialist
To learn more about partial knee replacement surgery, please request an appointment online, or call 888-660-2663.
Appointment Resources
Once you have scheduled your appointment with one of our knee doctors, please use the link below to obtain our new patient forms and browse through our tips and suggestions on preparing for your appointment.
“Dr. Lynch has replaced both of my knees. I'm very thankful for my ability to function as good as new.” — Lloyd O.
“I am so grateful to Dr. Kody and all his staff for giving me new knees and my life beck to normal - that is hectic. I play tennis now 1-2 times a week, can step into my trousers like a normal person, jog with my dog for short distances, hike up hills, skip with my granddaughter, and kneel at church. No pain!!!!!” — Patricia E.
“I started seeing Dr. Kody about 1998 regarding my knees. Last year, 2014, I had my first total knee replacement and this year, my 2nd one. All has gone so well! Dr. Kody is professional and yet personal in his interests of each patient. He has great expertise and that's why he is so busy and has a long waiting list...but worth the wait for the best! I felt too young at 65 to be unable to walk my dogs even 1/2 mile, let alone hike in the mountains or cross-country ski. I am so appreciative to be able to renew some of my favorite activities again helping me to age gracefully. Thanks so much for helping me achieve better quality of life for more years!” — Jan R.
"Dr. Reichard is as straightforward, professional and talented as any physician I have known. His depth of experience was the key to my choosing him for my knee replacement surgery. The surgery itself, from pre-op meeting through prep through the surgery and immediate post-surgery recovery, could not have been a better experience for me, given the intensity of the process. Thanks to everyone at the hospital and on Dr. Reichard's team!" — Robert R.
“Dr. Ellingsen is awesome! My surgery and recovery have been totally miraculous! Dr. Ellingsen put my badly mangled ankle together 10 years ago and I have never had an issue with it. Now my total knee replacement is beyond belief. I was off drugs at two weeks, threw the walker out at two weeks and never needed a cane. I can't express enough what a fabulous experience this whole event has been. Jill is fantastic and very reassuring about the process; and I know Dr. Ellingsen really cares about me as a patient and a person!” — Ann M.