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KNEE REPLACEMENT SYSTEMS
Knee replacements are successful operations that are designed to relieve pain in patients with knee arthritis. Once the cartilage in the knee joint wears out, the underlying bone is exposed and this is what causes the arthritic pain. In the early stages of arthritis pain relief medication such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen), weight loss and physiotherapy can help. In advanced knee arthritis a knee replacement can help alleviate pain and improve mobility.
The anatomy of the knee is composed of bone, cartilage, ligaments, tendons and muscles.
The knee can be thought of having three compartments:
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Medial (Inner) compartment
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Lateral (Outer) compartment
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Patello-femoral (Knee cap) compartment
Osteo-arthritis can affect one or more compartments. Dr McGee will assess your knee and discuss your best options. Sometimes the arthritis can only affect one part of your knee. The advantages of only replacing one part of the knee is that it is a smaller operation with a quicker recovery.
There are a number of techniques in performing a total knee replacement. The aim of the surgery is to resurface the bone of the joint and balance the soft tissues. Probably the most important step is to get the knee balanced so that the knee is neither tight nor loose when it is straight or bent. This allows you to comfortable bend the knee and walk.
The important aims of surgery is:
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Pain relief
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Restoration of function
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Longevity of the implant
In the process we aim to address your concerns, minimise any complications and help you make a quick recover from the operation
Steps Involved in your Knee Surgery
STEP ONE
A preoperative CT scan of the knee is used to create a virtual model.
STEP TWO
The model is used to plan the knee replacement, implant size and positioning.
STEP THREE
During the operation, anatomical landmarks within the patient’s knee are used to verify the bony resection.
STEP FOUR
A tensiometer is used to measure the gaps and balance the knee.