Total Knee Replacement: A Patient's Guide.
Edited By: Seth S. Leopold, M.D.
Last updated Tuesday, April 15, 2008
ConclusionSummary of total knee replacement surgery for severe arthritis of the knee Total knee replacement is a reliable surgical technique in which the
painful arthritic surfaces of the knee joint are replaced with
well-engineered bearing surfaces. Pain is substantially improved and
function regained in more than 90% of patients who have the operation.
Like any major procedure, there are risks to total knee surgery, and
the decision to have a knee replacement must be considered a
quality-of-life choice that individual patients make with a good
understanding of what those risks are.
Knee replacement is a surgical technique that has many variables;
like most areas of medicine, ongoing research will continue to help the
technique evolve. It is important to learn as much as possible about
the condition and the treatment options that are available before
deciding whether--or how--to have a knee replacement done. While many
of the changes now being explored in the field of total knee
replacement may eventually be shown to be legitimate advances--perhaps
including alternative bearing surfaces--it is important to compare them
carefully to traditional total knee replacement performed using well
established techniques, which we know are 90-95% likely to provide pain
relief and good function for more than 10 years after the surgery. Surgery for Severe arthritis of the knee at the University of Washington If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call the Bone & Joint Surgery Center at 206-598-3354 or Eastside Specialty Clinic at 425-646-7777 to make an appointment.Disclaimer
This resource has been provided by the University of Washington Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine as general information only. This information may not apply to a specific patient. Additional information may be found at http://www.orthop.washington.edu or by contacting the UW Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.
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