Knee FAQ

What is knee arthroplasty?

A knee arthroplasty is a replacement of damaged or arthritic surfaces of the distal femur and proximal tibia and the rest of the knee joint with metal and plastic materials to restore the integrity of the joint.

What are the indications for this procedure?

The main indication is to relieve pain caused by arthritis. Secondary goals are to correct deformity and to restore function. More specifically, candidates for knee replacements have severe degenerative changes of their knee joint seen on x-rays and have failed multiple methods of treatment to relieve their pain.

How successful are these operations?

About 95-97% of patients can expect a good to excellent clinical result. This clinical result encompasses minimal to no pain, the ability to walk more than 1 mile, increased range of motion and patient satisfaction with the procedure.

Can patients return to playing sports after knee surgery?

Most patients can return to low-impact sports, such as golf, doubles tennis, bowling, walking, and use such exercise machines as stationary cycle and cross-country ski simulators.

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