Total and Partial Knee Replacement

When medications, physical therapy and other conservative methods of treatment no longer relieve pain, total knee replacement surgery may be considered. Dr. Beyer will help you decide if the pain and loss of movement is severe enough that you should undergo the procedure. A total knee replacement will replace your arthritic knee with total knee implants, which have been shown to provide long-term relief.

In general, 90-95% of patients are satisfied with the outcome of their total knee replacement, 95% of the knee replacements are still in use after 10-15 years.

In a total knee replacement, the diseased surfaces of the bones are replaced with implants called prostheses. The femoral (thigh) component is made of metal and covers the end of the thigh bone. The tibial (shin bone) component is made up of both metal and polyethylene parts that cover the top of the tibia. The metal forms the base of this component, while the polyethylene is attached to the top of the metal. That polyethylene “insert” serves as a cushion – a smooth gliding surface between the two metal components. The third component, the patella or kneecap, may be all polyethylene or a combination of metal and polyethylene.

The the total knee replacement is inserted through an incision and the the new components are stabilized by your ligaments and muscles, just as they are in your natural knee.