Knee Replacement Surgery - Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists

Knee replacement surgery is a treatment for severe knee pain and arthritis. The procedure helps restore mobility and relieve severe pain from osteoarthritis and other conditions that lead to degeneration and a loss of cartilage.

What to Know About Knee Replacement Surgery

During knee replacement surgery, your orthopedic surgeon will resurface the damaged knee with artificial components.
There are two main types of knee replacements: partial and total replacements. Total replacement surgery is the more common procedure, as most patients have diffuse arthritis throughout the knee.
Many knee surgeries, including both partial and total knee replacements, can be done in an outpatient setting, meaning you can skip the hospital stay and go home the same day.

Which Conditions Are Improved with Knee Replacement Surgery?

The most common reason to undergo knee replacement surgery is degenerative osteoarthritis, which is the most common form of arthritis. It is caused by wear and tear and causes joint pain, stiffness and inflammation. It is most common among adults, with an increasing incidence with older age.
Other conditions can also lead to chronic degenerative changes in the knee, including a history of major trauma, inflammatory (autoimmune) arthritis, or certain genetic conditions.

Who is a Good Candidate for Knee Replacement Surgery?

While knee replacement surgery is very common, the treatment is most commonly recommended for:

Severe knee pain and damage due to arthritis or injury.
Discomfort, stiffness and swelling to the point where everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, and standing up are painful and difficult.
Continued symptoms despite appropriate conservative treatments like physical therapy, medications, injections, or other surgical procedures.

What Can I Expect During Recovery Following Knee Replacement Surgery?

Depending on overall health, social support and motivation, patients can either go home the same day (outpatient surgery) or stay overnight in the hospital for observation.

Physical therapy is critical for recovery after knee replacement. Usually, this is started at your home in the first few days after surgery. Most patients will also continue with outpatient physical therapy for 4-8 weeks, though some may require less.

Return to work and driving ability vary among patients depending on your function, pain, and your occupation. In order to drive, you must be off of all narcotic pain medications, and you must test your own ability to react and use the brakes appropriately in the event that emergent braking is needed. This is typically between 2-4 weeks after surgery for many patients.

A patient’s recovery experience is also dependent on his or her adherence to a recovery plan. The recovery plan for knee replacement surgery may include:

Physical therapy
Limiting or modifying activities
Using assistive devices like a walker or cane, and cold therapy (an ice machine, gel packs or other) to help with inflammation
Medications to help with pain and swelling: our multimodal approach to pain control can minimize the need for opioids postoperatively, sometimes allowing a recovery without narcotics at all.

The most common reason to undergo knee replacement surgery is degenerative osteoarthritis, which is the most common form of arthritis. It is caused by wear and tear and causes joint pain, stiffness and inflammation. It is most common among adults, with an increasing incidence with older age.
Other conditions can also lead to chronic degenerative changes in the knee, including a history of major trauma, inflammatory (autoimmune) arthritis, or certain genetic conditions.

While knee replacement surgery is very common, the treatment is most commonly recommended for:

Severe knee pain and damage due to arthritis or injury.
Discomfort, stiffness and swelling to the point where everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, and standing up are painful and difficult.
Continued symptoms despite appropriate conservative treatments like physical therapy, medications, injections, or other surgical procedures.

Depending on overall health, social support and motivation, patients can either go home the same day (outpatient surgery) or stay overnight in the hospital for observation.

A patient’s recovery experience is also dependent on his or her adherence to a recovery plan. The recovery plan for knee replacement surgery may include:

Physical therapy
Limiting or modifying activities
Using assistive devices like a walker or cane, and cold therapy (an ice machine, gel packs or other) to help with inflammation
Medications to help with pain and swelling: our multimodal approach to pain control can minimize the need for opioids postoperatively, sometimes allowing a recovery without narcotics at all.

Why Choose Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) for Knee Pain

ONS’ orthopedic knee surgeons are dedicated to providing surgical and nonsurgical approaches for treating acute and chronic knee conditions. Our specialists strive to offer the highest level of knee care that helps patients to restore function, reduce discomfort, provide relief, and prevent further injury. All of our surgeons are fellowship-trained, and many of them perform hundreds of knee replacement surgeries per year. We have outstanding outcomes with low complication rates. Our surgeons are also well-versed in techniques to reduce postoperative pain and minimize the use of opioids for pain control.