Restoring Comfort and Mobility to Your Problem Knee

Having chronic knee pain and stiffness can keep you from doing many things you enjoy. Thanks to medical advancements, your orthopedic surgeon can relieve the discomfort of a problem knee with a total knee replacement. Total knee replacement is surgery to replace worn, diseased or damaged parts of your knee with an artificial implant, or prosthesis. This surgery is a safe, reliable way to relieve pain and allow the knee to move freely and comfortably again.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Knee Replacement?
Total knee replacement can benefit patients suffering from a variety of knee problems. It is generally considered when severe pain and stiffness limit your ability to walk, work, or do other daily activities. This pain and stiffness you feel can result from:

• Bone diseases such as osteoarthritis (a type of arthritis where cartilage wears away, causing bones to grind together painfully).
• An earlier fracture or injury.
• A defect in the way the leg bones fit together.

Not all long-term knee problems require surgery. Joint replacement is done only after your orthopedist has carefully diagnosed your knee problem, and when other treatments have failed to improve your condition, Most patients have tried a program of exercise, physical therapy, walking aids, medications, or weight reduction before considering surgery.