What is Total Knee Replacement?
Total Knee Replacement, which is also known as Total Knee Arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure where:
- The worn ends of the bones which make up the knee joint are resurfaced with metal and plastic implants
- The alignment of the bones of the knee is restored so that the weight which passes through the knee is normally distributed.
The Knee Joint-What Goes Wrong
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- In a normal knee, the ends of the bone are covered in a shiny, ultra-low friction material known as articular cartilage. If these surfaces become worn (as in osteoarthritis ), joint pain and limited mobility may result. The X-ray to your left is that of a knee where osteoarthritis is present. Note the close proximity of the femur and tibia. In a normal knee, a clear, evenly spaced “gap” between the bones would be observed. The “gap” is a result a healthy layer of articular cartilage which in an X-ray, is not visible. In the X-ray below, the cartilage has been worn away allowing the visible bony surfaces to come painfully in contact with one another. |
- Often, the surfaces of the bone will wear unevenly causing a bow-legged (varus) or knock-kneed (valgus) deformity. In an X-ray, this is seen as a “gap” on one side and a small or “closed-gap” on the other side.
- If the pain and deformity become severe enough, Total Knee Replacement may be indicated.
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Total Knee Replacement - What's New?
Patellar Clunk Syndrome: Complication Following Knee Replacement SurgeryIn general, Total knee replacement (TKR) is a highly successful procedure. However, complications, although relatively rare, can sometimes occur. One such complication is known as Patellar Clunk Syndrome. To understand this condition, it helps to first understand a little bit about knee anatomy and function (Figure 1). During knee flexion... [Read more of this review]
Joint Stiffness: Complications Following Knee Replacement SurgeryJoint Stiffness: Complications Following Knee Replacement Surgery In a relatively recent article 1 published in the Musculoskeletal Journal of Hospital for Special Surgery, Dr. Alejandro Gonzalez Della Valle et al reviewed the origins of and treatments for early onset stiffness, a common complication following knee replacement surgery. We’ll present... [Read more of this review]
What do Cherries and Seaweed Have in Common? They Both May Help Your OsteoarthritisOsteoarthritis (OA) is joint inflammation caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of articular cartilage. It is characterized by pain, stiffness, and swelling. Recent reports suggest that two natural substances could help reduce pain and improve function in patients suffering from this often debilitating disease. Researchers at the Baylor... [Read more of this review]
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