Nearly half of U.S. adults will develop some degree of knee arthritis in
their lifetime. Knee arthritis gets in the way of many everyday activities,
from riding a bike, to climbing stairs, or even walking around the block.
Left untreated, knee issues can cause chronic pain and disability. Not
surprisingly, knee surgery is the most common form of joint replacement
in the United States.
The orthopedic surgeons at Community Memorial Healthcare always look to
minimally invasive options first, such as medication, orthotics, injections,
and arthroscopic knee surgery. However, if you continue to experience
chronic, debilitating knee pain, knee replacement may be your best option.
Anatomy of the Knee
Your body’s largest and strongest joint, the knee consists of three parts:
The lower end of the femur (thighbone)
The upper end of the tibia (shinbone)
The patella (kneecap)
At the knee joint, the ends of these bones are covered with articular cartilage
that protects and cushions the bones when you move your knee.
Two tough, wedge-shaped pieces of cartilage (meniscus) help cushion and
stabilize the joint and act as “shock absorbers” when you walk.
The knee joint is surrounded by the synovial membrane, which releases synovial
fluid to lubricates the cartilage.
Knee Replacement Surgery
During knee replacement surgery, your surgeon removes damaged cartilage
and bone and replaces them with man-made prostheses secured by specially
formulated bone cement. Depending on which areas of the knee are damaged,
prostheses may be placed in the femur, tibia, and/or patella.
Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacement with the ROSA® Joint System
ROSA is short for “Robotic Surgical Assistant” and that’s
exactly what the robot does — assist surgeons in planning, personalizing,
and performing knee and hip replacements for exceptional accuracy and
efficiency.
Partial Knee Replacement
If only certain areas of cartilage are damaged, it may be possible to perform
a partial knee replacement, in which only the affected portions of the
knee are replaced. Compared to total knee replacement, partial knee replacement
usually causes less blood loss and postsurgical pain, and a faster recovery.
Because the healthy parts of the knee are not removed, a partial knee
replacement may bend better and feel “more natural.”
