PARTIAL AND TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT

knee replacement

Patients who are candidates for a partial or total knee replacement typically have knee pain as well as limitations in motion. Most patients are unable to perform their normal daily activities such as climbing stairs or walking on uneven surfaces. Patients have undergone conservative treatment such as activity modification, over-the-counter pain medication, physical therapy, or knee injections. When these are no longer effective, it may be time to have a knee replacement.

A partial or a total knee replacement typically involves removing the diseased portion of the knee and replacing it with metal on the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone) with a plastic bearing surface between them. A partial knee replacement will just replace the part of the knee that is most damaged, whereas a total knee replacement will replace the entire joint. Dr. Diamond will go over the patient’s symptoms as well as their X-Ray findings to determine which type of replacement is best suited for each patient.

There are several different ways to perform a knee replacement. Dr. Diamond helped to bring the Mako™ robot to Beaumont Troy because he believes it is the best way to perform a knee replacement. The Mako™ Robotic Knee System is the most technologically advanced system for knee replacements and it has been shown to be consistently reproducible. Dr. Diamond’s robotic experience allows him to optimize each patient’s replacement to best suit them—he will optimize the position and sizing of the implants and balance the knee to create the most comfortable and functional knee for each patient. While the robot is essential for this enhanced precision, Dr. Diamond will still be in full control and doing all of the preparation and cuts—the robot is a tool that Dr. Diamond will utilize to make intra-operative decisions to make the most natural feeling knee available.

In order to have their knee registered properly during surgery, all patients will need to obtain a pre-operative CT scan to map out the bony anatomy of the knee. This will be loaded into an advanced knee implant software platform. This allows the surgeon to position the virtual knee implants onto the patient-specific knee bone models. Dr. Diamond will properly position the patient’s implant based on each patient’s anatomy within a half millimeter and one degree of precision.

Surgery typically takes between 1-1.5 hours and patients will be up and walking within hours of surgery. Patients are discharged from the hospital facility once they are medically stable and have been cleared by the physical therapy staff for safety—most patients go home the same day. Patients are recommended to walk each hour for a short distance while awake with support at first, and then without support when they are feeling confident and stable. Most patients will use their walker, crutches, or cane for 2-3 weeks following a knee replacement. At the 2-week follow-up appointment, Dr. Diamond will check your incision, pain levels, range of motion, go over your X-Rays, and will address any additional questions or concerns you may be having. All patients will be referred to formal physical therapy at this point, which typically lasts for 6 weeks with the aim to improve strength and range of motion of the knee.

Most patients are able to return to more sedentary jobs by 4-6 weeks. It typically takes about 3 months for most patients to feel functional enough for their everyday life, but it can take 12-18 months for maximal medical improvement. Although this is not a quick or easy recovery, most patients with a properly performed knee replacement have very high satisfaction rates.