What is a knee replacement?
Total knee replacement is a surgery in which Dr. Weber removes damaged cartilage and bone in your knee joint to replace it with plastic and metal parts. Along with total hip replacement, total knee replacement is one of the most common joint surgeries performed in America today.
There are three compartments within your knee, including the:
- Inner (medial) compartment
- Outer (lateral) compartment
- Anterior (patellofemoral) compartment
In contrast to a partial knee replacement, which involves only one compartment, Dr. Weber restores the entirety of your knee joint (all three compartments) with total knee replacement.
How does total knee replacement work?
Dr. Weber uses the state-of-the-art ROSA® Knee System to perform minimally invasive robotic total knee replacements. Robotic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery that features smaller incisions, reduced bleeding, less trauma to surrounding soft tissues, and less pain.
Dr. Weber preplans your surgery using three-dimensional knee imaging. During surgery, Dr. Weber controls robotic hands as he removes your old knee surfaces and shapes the bone to prep them for the implants.
The robotic assistant continually monitors your knee and leg during surgery, relaying this information to Dr. Weber in real time so he can make adjustments as needed for optimal implant fit.
The robotic total knee replacement approach allows for the highest level of precision during your surgery. When your knee implants fit perfectly, your risk of post-surgical problems like dislocation and shifting is much lower.
Many candidates qualify for same-day discharge after their total knee replacement surgery. Dr. Weber prescribes multimodal pain control after your surgery to help you stay comfortable so you can have maximum success with physical therapy and recovery.
When should I consider total knee replacement?
By far, the most common reason for total knee replacement is knee arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the reason for 90% of total knee replacements today. Other types of arthritis, including post-inflammatory arthritis, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis, can also cause severe knee damage.
Osteonecrosis, which causes bone death due to poor blood supply, is another potential cause that may call for total knee replacement.
If you’re suffering from one of these conditions, or have another condition that causes chronic severe knee pain and function problems, a total knee replacement might be the right treatment for you. It’s a major decision, but it can also be a truly life-changing one. Dr. Weber is here to help.
Total knee replacement can help you resume an active life. Want to learn more about this surgery? Request a consultation online or call the office of Ian C. Weber, MD, now.
