Your knee is the largest joint in your body and makes it possible for the thigh to support your body and allows you to bend your leg. When knee pain from injury or arthritis makes walking or climbing stairs painful, interferes with daily activities or makes it difficult to rest, it may be time to consider a total knee replacement, also known as total knee arthroplasty. 

Baptist Health is nationally recognized for excellence in total knee replacement surgery. We offer a full spectrum of orthopedic care and the latest approaches to total knee replacement surgery. Best of all, you’ll appreciate convenient appointment times, locations near you and a personalized focus to meet your needs before, during and after your procedure.

What is a Total Knee Replacement?

Total knee replacement surgery is a safe and effective way to relieve knee pain when medication or therapy no longer bring relief. The procedure replaces the knee joint with an artificial joint made of metal and high-grade plastic. 

Implant Components

A total knee replacement means components (or prostheses) are implanted on the joint surfaces of up to three bones in your knee. The lower end of your thigh bone will receive a smooth metal prosthesis. The top of your tibia, the larger of the two bones in your lower leg, will receive a flat metal prosthesis with a strong plastic cushion. In some cases, a dome-shaped plastic prosthesis is implanted on the back surface of the patellar or kneecap. 

Depending on your implant design and your health, the implants may be cemented into place with a fast-curing medical cement. Some total knee replacement components can be pressed into place, and rely on new bone growth around the implant to stabilize it. Sometimes an implant uses both processes, press-fitting the femoral implant and cementing the tibial and patellar components. In most cases, an intraoperative computer system is used to help align the knee components as perfectly as possible.

Implant Design

The look and design of your knee implant will be selected based upon your size, weight, activity level and gender. This customization helps assure the most comfort, function and longevity. All components are designed to move smoothly against each other and work together to allow your knee to bend, flex and support your body.

Reasons for Total Knee Surgery

There are several reasons you might need total knee replacement surgery. The most common reason is osteoporosis, a degenerative joint disease. 

Additional reasons for total knee replacement surgery are:

• Arthritis—Excessive wear and tear on the joint over a long period of time may lead to pain, swelling, and stiffness in the knee.
• Injuries—An accident or sudden trauma can result in damage that requires surgery.
• Tumors—Tumors can damage your knee. Some tumors are benign while others are malignant.

For more information about knee replacements, an orthopedic surgeon at Baptist Health may be able to help.

What Can a Total Knee Replacement Accomplish?

A total knee replacement is often recommended for people who have knee pain that limits their ability to engage in everyday activities and that has not responded to nonsurgical treatment like medications and therapy. This pain can be caused by arthritis, injury or wear and tear associated with aging. A total knee replacement is recommended to enhance comfort and mobility, including:

• Relieve knee pain
• Improve knee strength
• Increase stability 
• Deliver freedom of movement

What Can I Expect During the Procedure?

Once you are admitted for your total knee replacement surgery, a member of the anesthesia team will meet with you to explain the type of anesthesia that will be used to make you comfortable during the procedure. The surgery will take one to two hours. Your knee will be bent and your surgeon will remove any damaged bone and cartilage from the thighbone, tibia and kneecap. 

After the bone surfaces are prepared, the surgeon will build a new knee joint inside your leg using metal and plastic components that have been specially sized to fit you. The lower part of your thighbone will receive a smooth metal covering. The top of your large leg bone, the tibia, will receive a flat metal prosthesis with a strong plastic cushion. If your kneecap is damaged, a curved plastic prosthesis will be implanted on the back surface of the kneecap. These components will be carefully aligned and sealed to your bone. Incisions will be stitched or stapled.

Recovery

You will typically be in the hospital one to two days after surgery. To protect against swelling or blood clots, you may wear special support hose or a compression boot and be given blood thinning medication. You will be shown how to flex and move your foot and ankle to prevent blood clots and begin the healing process.

A physical therapist will show you how to move your knee and do special exercises to strengthen your leg. You can expect to walk before you leave the hospital.

Estimated Recovery Timeline

Once home, it is important to follow all instructions about exercise, physical activity and wound care in order to successfully recover. Recovery will depend upon your age, health and physical condition before surgery. While most people resume normal activities within three months, your doctor will explain when you can resume activities like climbing stairs, driving and going back to work. In general, people recover to their fullest potential extent three to six months after surgery. 

Common recommendations for total knee replacement recovery:

• Social Support—You will likely require assistance with walking and performing other everyday tasks such as bathing and doing laundry for the first few weeks of your recovery. Your doctor will help you plan for social support, which may include in-home care or a temporary stay at a rehabilitation center.
• Physical Activity—Usually, you will start some form of physical therapy within hours of your surgery. A physical therapist will show you movements to perform at home during your recovery. Your doctor may also want you to schedule future follow-up appointments with a physical therapist.
• Diet—Maintain a healthy and balanced diet during your recovery. Often, iron supplements help shorten healing and recovery time. You may experience a reduced appetite for several weeks post-surgery.
• Wound Care—Doctors will remove your stitches or staples a few weeks after your surgery. Until then, it is important to keep them dry and clean.
• Blood Clot Prevention—Your doctor may prescribe preventive stockings, leg wraps, and medication to help thin your blood.
• Safety/Comfort—You may want to consider modifications to your home for your safety and comfort. For example, you may want to remove or cover all slippery surfaces, add safety rails to your shower and hallways, and purchase a firm, customized chair with armrests and a stool so that you can occasionally elevate your legs.

Potential Complications of Total Knee Replacement

Any surgery carries risk, but a total knee replacement is typically a safe and effective procedure to treat knee pain that comes from injury or disease. You will be given instructions about how to avoid these specific risks after your total knee replacement surgery:

• Blood clots
• Infection
• Falls

Knee replacements can wear out. To take good care of your new knee, avoid high-impact activities and weight gain.

Reasons for Total Knee Surgery

There are several reasons you might need total knee replacement surgery. The most common reason is osteoporosis, a degenerative joint disease. 

Additional reasons for total knee replacement surgery are:

• Arthritis—Excessive wear and tear on the joint over a long period of time may lead to pain, swelling, and stiffness in the knee.
• Injuries—An accident or sudden trauma can result in damage that requires surgery.
• Tumors—Tumors can damage your knee. Some tumors are benign while others are malignant.

For more information about knee replacements, an orthopedic surgeon at Baptist Health may be able to help.

What Can a Total Knee Replacement Accomplish?

A total knee replacement is often recommended for people who have knee pain that limits their ability to engage in everyday activities and that has not responded to nonsurgical treatment like medications and therapy. This pain can be caused by arthritis, injury or wear and tear associated with aging. A total knee replacement is recommended to enhance comfort and mobility, including:

• Relieve knee pain
• Improve knee strength
• Increase stability 
• Deliver freedom of movement

What Can I Expect During the Procedure?

Once you are admitted for your total knee replacement surgery, a member of the anesthesia team will meet with you to explain the type of anesthesia that will be used to make you comfortable during the procedure. The surgery will take one to two hours. Your knee will be bent and your surgeon will remove any damaged bone and cartilage from the thighbone, tibia and kneecap. 

After the bone surfaces are prepared, the surgeon will build a new knee joint inside your leg using metal and plastic components that have been specially sized to fit you. The lower part of your thighbone will receive a smooth metal covering. The top of your large leg bone, the tibia, will receive a flat metal prosthesis with a strong plastic cushion. If your kneecap is damaged, a curved plastic prosthesis will be implanted on the back surface of the kneecap. These components will be carefully aligned and sealed to your bone. Incisions will be stitched or stapled.

Recovery

You will typically be in the hospital one to two days after surgery. To protect against swelling or blood clots, you may wear special support hose or a compression boot and be given blood thinning medication. You will be shown how to flex and move your foot and ankle to prevent blood clots and begin the healing process.

A physical therapist will show you how to move your knee and do special exercises to strengthen your leg. You can expect to walk before you leave the hospital.

Estimated Recovery Timeline

Once home, it is important to follow all instructions about exercise, physical activity and wound care in order to successfully recover. Recovery will depend upon your age, health and physical condition before surgery. While most people resume normal activities within three months, your doctor will explain when you can resume activities like climbing stairs, driving and going back to work. In general, people recover to their fullest potential extent three to six months after surgery. 

Common recommendations for total knee replacement recovery:

• Social Support—You will likely require assistance with walking and performing other everyday tasks such as bathing and doing laundry for the first few weeks of your recovery. Your doctor will help you plan for social support, which may include in-home care or a temporary stay at a rehabilitation center.
• Physical Activity—Usually, you will start some form of physical therapy within hours of your surgery. A physical therapist will show you movements to perform at home during your recovery. Your doctor may also want you to schedule future follow-up appointments with a physical therapist.
• Diet—Maintain a healthy and balanced diet during your recovery. Often, iron supplements help shorten healing and recovery time. You may experience a reduced appetite for several weeks post-surgery.
• Wound Care—Doctors will remove your stitches or staples a few weeks after your surgery. Until then, it is important to keep them dry and clean.
• Blood Clot Prevention—Your doctor may prescribe preventive stockings, leg wraps, and medication to help thin your blood.
• Safety/Comfort—You may want to consider modifications to your home for your safety and comfort. For example, you may want to remove or cover all slippery surfaces, add safety rails to your shower and hallways, and purchase a firm, customized chair with armrests and a stool so that you can occasionally elevate your legs.

Potential Complications of Total Knee Replacement

Any surgery carries risk, but a total knee replacement is typically a safe and effective procedure to treat knee pain that comes from injury or disease. You will be given instructions about how to avoid these specific risks after your total knee replacement surgery:

• Blood clots
• Infection
• Falls

Knee replacements can wear out. To take good care of your new knee, avoid high-impact activities and weight gain.