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Knee replacement surgery (knee arthroplasty) is a procedure done to remove and replace damaged parts of the knee joint. There are two kinds of knee replacement surgery. A total knee replacement is just what it sounds like — all the damaged parts of the joint, including the inside, outside and beneath the kneecap, are removed, and an artificial joint is put in. A partial knee replacement may affect only one part of the joint. These procedures are among the most common. Around 850,000 knee replacement surgeries are done every year in the U.S.
Who is joint replacement surgery for?
A health care provider may recommend a partial or total knee replacement if you have:
The pain you’re feeling is likely the result of arthritis, injury to the knee or another condition that has worn away and damaged bone and cartilage at the bottom of your thigh bone, top of your shinbone and possibly part of the back of your kneecap.
Joint replacement surgery removes the damaged area and replaces it with a new joint made mostly of metal and high-grade plastics to provide smooth motion, so surgeons can restore your ability to move while dramatically reducing your pain.
For some patients, a partial knee replacement may be the best course. The part of your knee at the bottom of the thigh bone has two surfaces that should glide easily across the top of your shinbone. One is on the inner part of your knee, and the other is on the outer part.
While a total knee replacement addresses both surfaces, a partial knee replacement deals with just one. The side that is damaged gets a metal cap that glides against a new metal and plastic piece at the top of your shinbone.
Norton Orthopedic Institute’s hip and knee replacement program has been certified as an Orthopaedic Center of Excellence by DNV. Norton Orthopedic Institute stays abreast of rapidly developing knee replacement advances. Our surgeons are leaders in the field and employ the latest technology to give you a more natural feeling knee and faster recovery.
Precision is the key to a new knee that feels like it should. Norton Orthopedic Institute surgeons have several advanced tools to achieve the precise placement of your new joint with as little damage to surrounding tissue as possible.
Just in the past few years, the advances in knee replacement surgery have been stunning.
Among the tools are options for robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery.
An orthopedic surgeon may use advanced, minimally invasive tools and techniques and can position the new joint with precision to match your unique anatomy. By fine-tuning the placement of your new knee to within a millimeter or two, the surgeon can give you a more natural feeling of movement.
Knee replacement without the assistance of a robot continues to produce excellent results. For knee replacement patients who want to return to a more active lifestyle, robot-assisted arthroplasty offers another level of precision to align the new joint.
Greater precision allows the surgeon to get closer to restoring the patient’s normal anatomy, and it may help patients recover faster and end pain medication sooner.
The CORI Surgical System, a robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery tool, combined with the widest selection of implants available, allows your surgeon to place the new joint with an alignment that more closely matches your natural anatomy.
The system’s 3D digital modeling is used to develop a surgical plan customized to each patient. This means Norton Orthopedic Institute surgeons can perform the procedure more precisely than with traditional knee replacement surgery.
The Norton Orthopedic Institute team has extensive experience with the ROSA Knee System, another robotic-assisted knee replacement tool.
In addition to its superior precision, the system uses lower-radiation X-rays to create a 3D model of the existing anatomy so the orthopedic surgeon can plan specifics of the replacement ahead of time.
Most knee replacements last 20 years or more.
Many factors can affect how long it will be before your artificial knee wears out. Your age, the amount of effort you put in preparing for knee replacement and other factors, such as weight, can affect how long your knee will last.
Prehab (rehabilitation before surgery) efforts also can speed your recovery from knee replacement surgery. Daily exercises leading up to surgery can strengthen your muscles and give you a head start on your postsurgical rehabilitation.
Your insurance plan may require you to try physical therapy and injections before any surgery.
More people in Louisville and Southern Indiana choose Norton Orthopedic Institute when they’re ready for knee replacement surgery.
Our board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons are innovators in minimally invasive techniques that can get you back to your active life faster and potentially with less pain.
We perform thousands of joint replacements every year for people who have been struggling with the pain and limitations of damaged or diseased knee joints. Our providers have the expertise and experience to get you moving again with less pain and fewer complications.
Our joint replacement patients typically are walking around within a couple hours of their surgery and go home the same day.
Depending on your condition, the extent of any arthritis and your health history, your provider may recommend a partial knee replacement or a total knee replacement.
More patients choose Norton Orthopedic Institute for hip or knee replacements and other orthopedic procedures than any other health care provider in Louisville or Southern Indiana.
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