Knee Replacement

 

The knee is one of the hardest working joints in our bodies.  It bears the full weight of our body and must function well in activities ranging from, simple walking, to stairclimbing and high-level sports. The knee requires that all the anatomic structures, including, bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc., work properly.  If your knee develops pain from wear and tear, or an old injury/prior surgery, and develops arthritis, you may be a candidate for a total knee replacement.

 

Initial treatment of knee arthritis is non-surgical.  Patients can participate in a light exercise program and are encouraged to lose weight if necessary.  Activity modification may improve symptoms. From a medical standpoint, over- the-counter and prescription medications (NSAIDS) are often the first choice of treatment.  Next is the possibility of injections, including cortisone and visco-supplementation.  Recently, PRP and stem cells, have received a lot of attention, but at this point they lack evidence as to their effectiveness.  Bracing, physical therapy and supplements also can give some relief. 

 

Total knee replacement has been a successful procedure for over three decades. Each year in the US, there are over 1 million knee replacements performed. The arthritic surfaces are replaced with metal and plastic components.  The success rates are very high and complications are low.

The physicians at Burke & Bradley are some of the most experienced knee replacement surgeons in the area, with results ranking them at the top of joint replacement surgeons in the country.

 

 New developments in Orthopedics and Joint replacement are constantly emerging.  It takes years of study and testing to assess the advantages and disadvantages as well as potential complications associated with this new technology.  Our surgeons have experience with and training on all the past and more recent technology. We would be happy to discuss all the different platforms available and how they compare with current proven methods of Knee Replacement surgery.  This includes Computer Assisted, Computer Navigation and Robotic techniques.  Our surgeons are trained in all these methods.  All procedures remove the arthritic ends of the bones and replace the surfaces with an artificial joint of metal and plastic. Every patient is unique, therefore, it is critical that each patient is evaluated as an individual. 

 

Post-operative treatment will be individualized, regardless of the Knee Replacement method selected, standard total knee replacement, computer-assisted, or robotic total knee replacement.  Younger, healthy patients can be considered for discharge earlier, possibly the same day of surgery or on post-op day one.  Most patients will qualify for an additional day in the hospital to ensure optimal medical evaluation, adequate pain control, and additional physical therapy to achieve optimum results and will be discharged home on post-op day two.

 

For further information, please contact the office for an appointment.