Knee joint replacement
Definition
Knee joint replacement is surgery to replace a knee joint with an artificial joint. The artificial joint is called a prosthesis.
Alternative Names
Total knee replacement; Knee arthroplasty; Knee replacement - total; Tricompartmental knee replacement
Description
You may receive general anesthesia before this surgery. This means you will be unconscious and unable to feel pain. Or, you may have a spinal or epidural anesthesia. In this kind of anesthesia, medicine is put into your back to make you numb below your waist.
After you receive anesthesia, your surgeon will make an incision (cut) over your knee to open it up. Then your surgeon will:
- Move your kneecap (patella) out of the way, then shape the ends of your thigh bone and shin bone to fit the prosthesis. Your surgeon will also cut the underside of your kneecap to prepare it for the artificial pieces that will be attached there.
- Fasten the two parts of the prosthesis to your bones. One part will be attached to the end of your thigh bone and the other part will be attached to your shin bone. Both parts will then be attached to the underside of your kneecap. Your surgeon will use a special bone cement to attach these parts.
Usually, artificial knees have metal parts. Now, though, some surgeons are using some different materials, including metal on metal, ceramic on ceramic, or ceramic on plastic.
Risks
Risks for any surgery are:
- Breathing problems
- Infection, including in the lungs, urinary tract, and chest
- Bleeding
- Heart attack or stroke during surgery
The risks of this surgery are:
- Dislocation of the artificial joint
- Infection that requires removing the joint
- Loosening of the artificial joint over time
- Pneumonia
- Allergic reaction to the artificial joint
- Injury to nerves or blood vessels
- Blood clots that may form in your leg (deep vein thrombosis) or your lungs (pulmonary embolism)
Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
