Knee Replacement Specialist

What is knee replacement?

Knee replacement is a surgical procedure in which Dr. Bright removes damaged sections of bone and cartilage in your knee joint and puts artificial components in their places. Knee replacement surgery is a major operation, so you're likely to undergo less invasive treatments first.

For many patients, options like anti-inflammatory medications, activity modification, bracing, and physical therapy result in good symptom control for painful knee conditions. When these aren't providing the necessary relief, viscosupplementation (injections of lubricating hyaluronic acid) or steroid injections into the knee may be beneficial.

Dr. Bright may also recommend genicular ablation, a procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to temporarily disable the nerves in your knee and stop them from sending pain messages to your brain.

When none of these treatments is successful, or if they stop working, knee replacement could be your best option.

What conditions might lead to knee replacement?

Knee replacement might be necessary if you shatter the joint in an accident, but by far the most common condition that necessitates knee replacement surgery is osteoarthritis. Other types of arthritis can also affect the knees, for example, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, but osteoarthritis is most prevalent.

Arthritis is a term for conditions that cause joint pain, which in the case of osteoarthritis is due to wear and tear that occurs over the years. The cartilage on the ends of bones in your joints wears down, so instead of gliding smoothly over each other, the bones start to catch, causing irritation. The result is inflammation and discomfort in the joints. 

Osteoarthritis affects many older people and tends to worsen as you age. There's no cure, and as it progresses, the condition typically causes constant, severe joint pain as well as weakness and stiffness. Knees are particularly prone to developing osteoarthritis.

What happens when I have knee replacement surgery?

There are two main bones in your knee: the top of your tibia (shinbone) and the bottom of your femur (thighbone). If both sides of your knee sustain irreparable damage, Dr. Bright might need to perform a total knee replacement.

He removes the damaged ends of the bones and replaces them with artificial substitutes and also resurfaces your patella (kneecap). Sometimes one side of the knee can be saved, in which case Dr. Bright performs a partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement.

Dr. Bright may use advanced Mako® or Rosa® robot-assisted technology to perform your knee replacement surgery. The robotic system doesn't replace Dr. Bright but allows him to perform the procedure with optimal accuracy. As a result, you experience less tissue damage and pain, and you heal more quickly. 

Dr. Bright also uses the OrthoSensor®, which uses Bluetooth technology with pressure sensors to make sure your knee replacement isn’t too loose (unstable) or too tight (stiff), ensuring optimal function of your new knee.

If your knee pain isn't responding to other treatments, discuss your suitability for knee replacement surgery with Dr. Bright. Call Schofield, Hand and Bright Orthopaedics today or book an appointment online.