Knee Replacement Surgery

Consult with Us at Great River Orthopaedic Specialists

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (319) 768-4970

The upper leg bone (femur) meets the lower leg bone (tibia) to form the knee joint. The end of the femur consists of two condyles, which are like runners on each side of the bone. The condyles sit on top of the tibia, which is like a platform that slightly curves inward. On each side of the joint, there is an area of contact between the two bones. When the knee is bent, the condyles of the femur roll and slide on top of the tibia at these two areas of contact. A third bone, the kneecap (patella), glides over the front and end of the femur.

In a healthy knee joint, the surfaces of these bones are very smooth and covered with a tough protective tissue called cartilage. Arthritis causes damage to one or more of the bone surfaces and cartilage where the bones rub together. These damaged surfaces eventually become painful and may cause loss of movement.

There are many ways to treat the pain caused by arthritis. Knee-replacement surgery usually is considered after other treatment methods have been tried. In knee-replacement surgery, the bone surfaces and cartilage that have been damaged by arthritis are removed and replaced with artificial surfaces made of metal and a very durable plastic material. These artificial surfaces are called “implants.”

A minimally invasive procedure for knee replacements may help people keep pace with busy lives. Some patients may benefit from minimally invasive knee-replacement surgery. The benefits are:

• Smaller scar – Only the diseased portion of the knee is removed, leaving a 2- to 3-inch scar.
• Shorter hospital stay – For some people, minimally invasive knee-replacement surgery is an outpatient procedure. Inpatient stays are shorter than standard total knee-replacement surgery.
• Faster recovery and rehabilitation time – For many patients, it’s about five weeks.
• Greater range of motion – The procedure allow for nearly full range of motion compared to standard total knee procedures (non-high flex).

As your physician if you are a candidate for this type of procedure.

Minimally Invasive Partial-knee Replacement

If the surfaces on both sides of the bones, as well as the underside of the patella, are significantly damaged, a total knee replacement usually is considered. But sometimes there may be significant damage on only one side of the joint. In these cases, a partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement may be considered. In a partial knee replacement, only one side of the joint is resurfaced.

Getting to the Joint

For a partial knee replacement, the patient is taken into the operating room and given anesthesia. After the anesthesia has taken effect, the skin around the knee is scrubbed thoroughly clean and then swabbed with an antiseptic liquid. The knee is flexed about 90 degrees, and the lower portion of the leg, including the foot, is placed in a special device to securely hold it in place during the surgery. A tourniquet is usually applied to the upper portion of the leg to help slow the flow of blood.

An incision is made through the skin, muscle and other soft tissue until the damaged bone surfaces are exposed. Recent advances in instrumentation and surgical technique have allowed surgeons to perform some partial knee replacements through a much smaller incision than those used traditionally. This less-invasive procedure, which is called MIS™ Minimally Invasive Solution, is intended to disrupt less of the soft tissue that surrounds the joint.

Removing the Damaged Bone Surfaces

Damaged bone surfaces and cartilage are removed. Precision guides are used to help make sure that the cuts are made at the correct angles so the bones will align properly after the implants are attached.

Small amounts of the bone surface are removed from the front, end, and back of the damaged condyle on the femur. This shapes the bone so the implants will fit properly.

A small portion of the top surface of one side of the tibia is also removed, making the end of the bone flat.

Attaching the Implants

An implant is attached to each of the bones using a special kind of cement for bones. The implants are shaped so that the knee joint will move in a way that is very similar to the way the joint moved when it was healthy.

The implant that fits over the end of the femur is made of metal. Its surface is rounded and very smooth.

There are two types of implants that fit over the top of the tibia. One consists of two parts. A metal base plate fits over the part of the bone that was cut flat. A plastic insert is then attached to the base plate to serve as the articulating surface between the tray and the metal femoral implant that covers the end of the femur. The other type of implant consists of a single piece of plastic that is similar in shape to the metal base plate and plastic combination. Your physician will decide which implant is better for you.

Closing the Wound

When all the implants are in place, the surgeon may adjust the ligaments that surround the knee to achieve the best possible knee function. Then the surgeon sews the layers of tissue back into their proper position. A plastic tube may be inserted into the wound to allow fluids to drain from the site for a few hours after surgery. The edges of the skin are then sewn together and the knee is wrapped in a sterile bandage. The patient is then taken to the recovery room.