Considering a Knee Replacement?

At present, 91% of all knee replacements involve replacing the entire knee joint – but knee replacement surgery can be performed as a partial or a total knee replacement. As many as 1 in 3 people with painful knee arthritis may be suitable for partial knee replacement instead of the traditional total knee replacement.

When non-operative treatments are no longer effective, your GP may recommend knee replacement surgery.

This is a very routine procedure which has been carried out for over 30 years. In 2008, almost 80,000 patients were treated with a knee replacement operation in the UK.

The clinical term for a knee replacement is a total knee arthroplasty and for the past 30 years, it has been the most successful treatment for patients with severe arthritis. It involves resurfacing the worn or damaged knee joint and replacing it with metal and plastic components that slide together smoothly - enabling you to regain a close to normal movement of the knee.

Although it is called a ‘Knee Replacement’ it is really just a cartilage and bone replacement with an artificial surface. The knee itself is not replaced, only the damaged tissue on the ends of the bones. The replacement implants include a metal alloy on the end of the thighbone and polyethylene (plastic) on the shinbone and kneecap. The implants create a new smoothly functioning joint designed to prevent painful bone-on-bone contact.