The knee is the largest joint in the body and having healthy knees is required to perform most everyday activities.

If your knee is severely damaged by arthritis or injury, it may be hard for you to perform simple activities, such as walking or climbing stairs. You may even begin to feel pain while you are sitting or lying down.

If nonsurgical treatments like medications and using walking supports are no longer helpful, you may want to consider total knee replacement surgery. Joint replacement surgery is a safe and effective procedure to relieve pain, correct leg deformity, and help you resume normal activities.

Knee replacement, also called knee arthroplasty or total knee replacement, is a surgical procedure to resurface a knee damaged by arthritis. Metal and plastic parts are used to cap the ends of the bones that form the knee joint, along with the kneecap.

A total knee replacement (TKR) is a complex procedure that requires an orthopaedic surgeon to make precise measurements and skilfully remove the diseased portions of your bone, in order to shape the remaining bone to accommodate the knee implant. During the procedure, the surgeon builds the artificial knee inside your leg, one component at a time, to create a highly realistic artificial joint.

A knee replacement (also called knee arthroplasty) might be more accurately termed a knee “resurfacing” because only the surface of the bones are replaced.

There are four basic steps to a knee replacement procedure:

  • Prepare the bone. The damaged cartilage surfaces at the ends of the femur and tibia are removed along with a small amount of underlying bone.
  • Position the metal implants. The removed cartilage and bone is replaced with metal components that recreate the surface of the joint. These metal parts may be cemented or “press-fit” into the bone.
  • Resurface the patella. The under surface of the patella (kneecap) is cut and resurfaced with a plastic button. Some surgeons do not resurface the patella, depending upon the case.
  • Insert a spacer. A medical-grade plastic spacer is inserted between the metal components to create a smooth gliding surface.

Robotic-assisted surgery, one of these new methods, uses computer-aided technology to complement conventional surgical procedures.

During the conventional method for a knee replacement procedure, the damaged tissue in the knee is replaced with an artificial joint. A robotic knee replacement surgery is no different, but is performed with the assistance of a robotic arm.

Many studies worldwide have demonstrated positive key outcomes associated with Robotic Knee Replacement Surgery. It is becoming more evident that Robotic knee replacement surgery may offer faster relief with shorter hospital stays, quicker recovery times and longer-lasting results. This is ground-breaking for patients suffering from severe knee pain caused by osteoarthritis,

Sources:

https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/

https://www.healthline.com

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

 

 

Meet Dr Peter Smith, a leading Orthopaedic Surgeon operating from the Mediclinic Milnerton in Cape Town, Western Cape. His practice is situated in the heart of this seaside town.  Dr Peter Smith not only offers patients the full spectrum of professional orthopaedic treatments, but specialises in total knee replacement, total hip replacement, sports injuries and the latest arthroscopic surgery techniques and computer guided surgery. He gained extensive experience in the latest arthroplasty techniques during his stay of 6 years in Australia where he performed more than a hundred primary and revision hip and knee replacements cases in a year.

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