Knee replacement surgery is performed to treat advanced or end-stage arthritis. When arthritis in the knee joint or joints has increased to the point where medical management is not effective, or deformity has become severe and debilitating (reduces the person’s strength), knee replacement surgery might be indicated.

Total knee replacement surgery involves accurate placement of prosthesis, alignment and balancing of the operated knee. Robotic arm-assited Total Knee Replacement surgery brings in nearly 100% precision in prosthesis placement. Patients treated with this technology have a very natural feel of the knee joint, as most of the ligaments are preserved. Minimal blood loss and rapid post-operative recovery are the other likely benefits of this technology.

People with painful knee deformities, severe degenerative X-ray changes, or advanced symptoms of arthritis are candidates for knee replacement surgery. Symptoms of advanced end-stage knee arthritis include: Pain Crepitus Stiffness Limping Muscle weakness Limitation of motion, and Swelling. When pain medications and physical therapy fail to manage these symptoms, knee replacement surgery may be indicated and performed by your orthopaedic surgeon.

We now know that approximately 90 percent of the knee implants will last 20 years. Some last even more. (Evans et al, The Lancet, Feb 2019) Improvements in surgical technique, use of robotic technique, prosthetic designs, bearing surfaces, and fixation methods might increase the survival rate of these implants even longer.

Knee conditions limit patients' activities of daily living due to pain and limited mobility. A benefit of knee replacement surgery is that it may be able to help patients resume a normal lifestyle. However, the patients' underlying condition and overall health has an impact on the quality of life.

While knee replacement surgery is a safe treatment, there are risks that are possible with any surgery. For total knee replacement, they include: Infection in the artificial joint Neurovascular (i.e., nerve and/or blood vessels) damage Wear and tear of prosthesis (i.e., the knee implant device) due to heavy use Stiffness of the knee if scar tissue develops Complications involving the lungs, heart, gastrointestinal, or neurological system Failure to relieve knee pain Loss of the leg due to blood clots Death Knee replacement surgery is nearly always a successful procedure, but patients should carefully consider any risks, weigh them carefully and discuss with your orthopaedic surgeon before deciding to have surgery.