Knee replacement
Total knee arthroplasty is often the best, most permanent solution for severe Arthritis that does not respond to conservative treatment.
Find A ProviderSymptoms
of Knee Pain
Symptoms of a damaged knee joint vary, based upon the underlying knee condition. The symptoms may include:
- Swelling at knee joint
- Stiff knee joint
- Knee is red or warmer than the surrounding tissue
- Your knee makes popping or crunching sounds when in motion
- You are unable to straighten your knee
- Knee feels weak or unstable
(and Smaller) Surgery
Types of Knee Diagnoses
Knee pain can be the result of several conditions. An accurate diagnosis must be made to determine how to best treat your symptoms:
- ACL Injury
- MCL sprain
- Dislocated kneecap
- Bakers cyst
with Less Pain
Other Causes of Knee Pain
Chronic knee pain is commonly caused by arthritis. Arthritis is a term used to describe pain and inflammation in the joints. While there are many types of arthritis, the three most common types that lead to pain and loss of mobility are:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is an age-related form of arthritis that causes joint pain and stiffness. As we age, the cartilage that cushions our joints begins to wear away, eventually leading to painful bone-on-bone contact. This type of arthritis is more common in people over 50 years of age, although it has been seen in younger patients. Osteoarthritis is the most chronic condition of the joints which affects approximately 27 million Americans.
Read more lessGenetic Predisposition
Some genetic factors come into play, and it is believed that some people have a defect in the genetic code that directs collagen production in the body. Other patients may have inherited a minor flaw in how the knee joints fit together that lead to faster wearing of the cartilage.
Weight
When a person carries excess weight, it naturally places more stress on the weight-bearing joint at the knee. This causes the cushioning cartilage to wear away more quickly. It is believed by some researchers that the presence of excess fat in the body leads to the production of inflammatory chemicals that may damage the joint.
Injury, Excessive Knee Use
Some people have performed repetitive motions at work, in athletic pursuits, running, or other activity that eventually affects the function of the knee joint. Types of jobs that involve a great deal of time standing, lifting, or other similar activity can wear away the joint more rapidly. Injuries to joints such as damage from a fall, car accident, or other event can lead to a fracture which eventually leads to developing osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a disease that causes the synovial membrane around the knee to become inflamed and thickened. This autoimmune disorder can damage the cartilage over time, causing cartilage loss and joint pain and stiffness.
Post-traumatic Arthritis
Post-traumatic Arthritis is the result of a major injury to the knee. Bone fractures, ligament tears, and resulting damage to the cartilage over time will result in arthritis of the knee joint.
Knee Function
The knee is made up of the lower end of the thighbone (femur), the upper end of the shinbone (tibia), and the kneecap (patella). The ends of these three bones are covered with articular cartilage, a smooth substance that protects the bones and enables them to move easily within the joint.
The menisci are located between the femur and tibia. These C-shaped wedges act as “shock absorbers” that cushion the joint. Large ligaments hold the femur and tibia together and provide stability. The long thigh muscles give the knee strength.All remaining surfaces of the knee are covered by a thin lining called the synovial membrane. This membrane releases a fluid that lubricates the cartilage, reducing friction to nearly zero in a healthy knee.
Normally, all of these components work in harmony. But disease or injury can disrupt this harmony, resulting in pain, muscle weakness, and reduced function.
Knee Replacement
Tricompartmental knee replacement, also called total knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure in which the worn out or damaged surfaces of the knee joint are removed and replaced with new parts. The knee is made up of the femur (thigh bone), the tibia (shin bone), and patella (kneecap). The meniscus, the soft cartilage between the femur and tibia, serves as a cushion and helps absorb shock during motion.
Arthritis (inflammation of the joints), injury, or other diseases of the joint can damage this protective layer of cartilage, causing extreme pain and difficulty in performing daily activities. The knee can be divided into three compartments:
- Patellofemoral - The compartment behind the kneecap
- Medial compartment - The compartment on the inside of the knee
- Lateral compartment - The area on the outside of the knee joint
The Goal of Knee Replacement
The goal of Knee replacement is to resurface the damaged cartilage in order to relieve pain and restore the alignment and function of your knee. Your doctor may recommend surgery if non-surgical treatment options have failed to relieve the symptoms.
Traditional knee replacement offers a cookie cutter approach to surgery. With Kinomatic surgical planning your surgeon can use a minimally invasive surgical approach and resurface the bone by removing just a few mm of bone. There are 3 bone surfaces that need to be resurfaced. Making sure that all 3 are aligned to fit you is no easy feat. Kinomatic surgical planning takes out the guess work, and helps your surgeon achieve the best possible outcome.
How It Works
Procedures
Looking for a Kinomatic provider?
Hundreds of outstanding surgical clinics around the country are adopting our cutting-edge VR platform.
Enter your information below to find a surgeon near you.