Patient Education: Knee Replacement

The Surgical Procedure

Knee replacement is one of the most common forms of total joint replacements. To begin the surgical procedure, the patient will be given an anesthetic (usually a spinal unless contraindicated). The surgeon will then make an incision and prepare the knee for implantation of the prostheses by reshaping and resurfacing the bones of the arthritic knee joint. The surgeon will then place and secure the implants in the appropriate areas to replace the joints. Ultimately, the damaged and rough surfaces of the knee joint will be replaced with new, smooth-surfaced components. The lower knee component will replace the roughened surface of the shin bone. The upper knee component replaces the roughened surface of the thigh bone. The kneecap component covers the underside of your kneecap. When the surgery is finished, the incision will be closed and a small tube (called a hemovac) will be placed in the incision to help drain fluid from the operative area for the first day or so. 

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