The knee joint is complex and can be damaged by injury or disease. Knee pain can significant interfere with every day basic functions, independence and life-enhancing activities. The goal of knee replacement surgery is the elimination of pain and restoration of knee function, mobility and stability.

Knee replacement surgery is one of the most successful surgeries in orthopaedics. More than 800,000 knee replacement surgeries are performed every year in the U.S. While this is a complex procedure, it has been proven safe and effective. Clinical studies have shown that more than 90% of patients who received an artificial knee found significant pain relief and improved function.

Osteoarthritis (wear and tear) of the knee joint is the most common reason for knee replacement surgery. In the U.S. one in five people with develop knee arthritis during their lives.

Who is a good candidate?

There are no weight or age restrictions. In the past, total knee replacement has been reserved for people over the age of 60 with knee arthritis because the implants had a have a life span of 10-15 years.

However technological advancements have substantially improved implants so that they can last a lifetime. Today patients in their 40 and 50s with knee arthritis can have total knee replacement and return to enjoy an active quality of life.

The best candidates are healthy, have knee arthritis, chronic knee pain and limited mobility, and have tried and failed at nonsurgical approaches to relieve their pain and improve function.

They best way to know if you are a good candidate is to contact Grossmont Orthopaedics in La Mesa, California to schedule a consultation.

Timing your knee replacement surgery

Timing of your knee replacement is important. The best candidates do not wait until they are disabled and unable to climb stairs, get out of a chair or walk without assistance.  Delaying surgery increases joint deterioration, pain and disability and raises the risk of complications. Having knee replacement surgery before advanced deterioration will allow you to recover more quickly and have improved outcomes.

Knee replacement surgery

Knee replacement surgery can be performed as a partial or a total knee replacement. In general, the surgery consists of replacing the diseased or damaged joint surfaces with metal and plastic components shaped to allow for normal motion of the knee.

When you have a total knee replacement, your Grossmont Orthopaedics surgeon will remove the damaged cartilage and bone from the knee joint surfaces and replace them with man-made parts made of metal and plastic. In a partial knee replacement, the surgeon only replaces one part of your knee joint.

In addition to upgraded implants, advanced techniques offer better precision which improves outcomes and implant longevity. Robotic – assisted total and partial knee replacement surgery offers many benefits to our patients. It offers the ability to preplan surgery around each patient’s unique anatomy to ensure optimum sizing.  It helps your surgeon to more accurately position the implants and balance the ligaments for a more natural-feel and function. This also means your implants will last longer. Without robotic assistance we can achieve 97% accuracy.  However even a slight deviation can cause excess wear and tear and even loosen the implant. Robotic – assisted knee replacement offer 99% accuracy and your surgeon is always totally in control. Robot -assist knee replacement also improves safety, the surgery is less invasive, and there is less blood loss and faster recovery.

Just like any joint replacement the success of the surgery depends on many factors including the advanced state of the arthritic joint at the time of surgery, the overall health of the patient and the dedication to the physical therapy required after the surgery.

Knee replacement surgery can be life-changing for people who suffer with knee arthritis. Contact Grossmont Orthopaedics in La Mesa, CA to discover how you can live pain free.