| The information provided below is meant to educate | | | | The plastic bearing in your new knee joint will either |
| the patient about the options available to knee | | | | be fixed or mobile-bearing. This means that the |
| replacement candidates. Ultimately your surgeon will | | | | polyethylene insert is either clicked onto a stationary |
| make these decisions. Your doctor should explain to | | | | platform (fixed) or able to move on a rotating metal |
| you which knee replacement is best for you and | | | | base (mobile). Most people get a fixed-bearing |
| why. | | | | prosthesis that reduces knee pain dramatically and |
| When a surgeon considers a patient for a total knee | | | | may last for many years. If you are younger, more |
| replacement, she takes into account the | | | | active and/or overweight, sometimes a doctor may |
| patient’s age, lifestyle, and damage to the joint. | | | | recommend a mobile-bearing or a rotating platform |
| In addition, a surgeon’s decision to use one | | | | knee replacement designed for potentially longer |
| procedure over another, or one type of implant over | | | | performance with less wear. |
| another, often depends on that surgeon's training and | | | | In addition, there is the medial pivot implant which |
| clinical situation. Each implant design has advantages | | | | replicates the rotating, twisting, bending, flexion, and |
| and disadvantages, but whichever implant your | | | | stability of your natural knee, so it feels more like |
| surgeon decides to go with, it's good to know that | | | | your natural knee. This design "stays put" or is more |
| total knee replacement surgeries offer among the | | | | stabile during normal knee motion as opposed to |
| greatest success rates of all orthopedic operations. | | | | sliding forward slightly in flexion. |
| Nevertheless, we advise you to research your | | | | Custom or special needs implants are another option |
| options so that you can intelligently discuss with your | | | | when choosing an implant. This will depend on |
| surgeon what approach will be best for you. | | | | whether your skeleton is smaller or bigger than |
| What happens in knee replacement surgery? | | | | average. Research shows that regular-sized implants |
| A total knee replacement replaces the damaged | | | | may overhang on the bone and lead to soft tissue |
| bearing surfaces in your knee that are causing pain. | | | | interference or mid-flexion instability in those people |
| At the lower end of the femur (thigh bone), the | | | | with narrow femurs. |
| bone is trimmed to accept a specially shaped metal | | | | Maybe a total knee replacement isn’t necessary . |
| component and the upper end of the tibia (shin bone) | | | | . . |
| likewise is trimmed to accept a metal tray. Into this | | | | In some cases, a surgeon will be able to preserve |
| tray will be fitted a plastic bearing. | | | | part of the knee through resurfacing or partially |
| The metal components can be secured to the cut | | | | replacing components of your arthritic knee. |
| bone surfaces by the surgeon’s choice of bone | | | | Partial Knee Resurfacing is an innovative procedure |
| cement or a non-cement method called “bone | | | | designed to provide quicker recovery and improved |
| ingrowth”. The majority of knee replacements | | | | surgical outcome. This is for patients with damage |
| are generally cemented into place. This is one option | | | | confined to only one part of the knee which can be |
| you can ask your surgeon about. “What type of | | | | resurfaced without compromising the healthy bone |
| fixation will you use to hold my knee in place?” | | | | and tissue surrounding it. The implants are usually |
| The outer surface of the femoral component is | | | | custom-made implants using CAD (computer aided |
| shaped to allow the kneecap (patella) to slide up and | | | | design) from a special digital imaging of the knee. |
| down in its groove. The surgeon may choose to | | | | Another option is a partial knee replacement (also |
| retain the natural kneecap or re-surface it. You can | | | | called a unicompartmental arthroplasty or |
| ask your surgeon about this. “Will you be | | | | hemiarthroplasty). This involves putting a smaller |
| replacing my kneecap or retaining it? | | | | implant on just one side (or compartment) of the |
| The Cruciate Ligaments are major ligaments inside | | | | knee where the damage is limited to that part rather |
| the knee. They provide support to and stablize the | | | | than replacing the entire surface. A partial knee |
| movement of the knee. In total knee replacement | | | | replacement is done if part of the knee joint is |
| surgery, the CL can be kept or removed and this | | | | damaged by arthritis and the other compartments |
| choice depends on their condition, the type of knee | | | | have healthy, normal cartilage. |
| implant or the type of surgery the surgeon likes to | | | | About BoneSmart.org |
| do. This is another option you can ask your surgeon | | | | BoneSmart.org is a National Public-Awareness |
| about. “Will you be removing or retaining my | | | | Campaign for Knee and Hip Joint Replacement |
| cruciates?" | | | | Candidates. The BoneSmart® National Consumer |
| Sometimes the deterioration of the knee joint is such | | | | Awareness Campaign’s mission is to raise patient |
| that total knee replacement can be avoided and your | | | | awareness of the options available to persons |
| surgeon may suggest resurfacing or partially replacing | | | | diagnosed as a knee or hip joint replacement |
| components of your arthritic knee. Preserving healthy | | | | candidates by providing an Internet portal for |
| bone stock is especially important to younger and | | | | awareness of the latest advances in joint |
| more active individuals. In the last section of this | | | | replacement materials, their longevity and suitability |
| article, we will talk about when a total knee | | | | for various applications. With this information the |
| replacement may not be necessary. | | | | potential patient may be better informed when |
| What are the different types of implants? | | | | discussing options with his or her surgeon. |