What is Total Knee Replacement?

Total Knee Replacement is a surgical procedure where:

• The bones of the knee are resurfaced with metal and plastic implants
• The bones of the knee are "realigned" so that the weight that passes through the knee is normally distributed.

The Knee Joint-Basic Anatomy

• The knee joint is the mating and movement of three bones; the femur or thigh bone, the tibia or shin bone and the patella or knee-cap.
• The bones are joined together by ligaments and tendons.
• The tendons attach the muscles to the bones and the ligaments attach the bones to one another .
• The link below is a good overview of basic knee anatomy: http://www.kneepaininfo.com/kneeanatomy.html

The Knee Joint-What Goes Wrong

• If the surfaces of the knee bones become worn (arthritis), pain and limited mobility may result.
• Often, the surfaces of the bone will wear unevenly causing a bow-legged (varus) or knock-kneed (valgus) deformity.
• If the pain and deformity become severe enough, Total Knee Replacement may be indicated.

Medical Disclaimer:
The contents of this website and the links are for information only and are not a substitute for medical advice. This information should not replace necessary medical consultations with a qualified physician or health care provider.