Largest and Most Complex Joints in Your Body

Your knee is a hinge joint that connects the thigh with your lower leg. It’s one of the largest and most complex joints in your body. The thigh bone (femur) connects with the top portion of your knee, and the shin bone (tibia) connects with the lower portion. In addition, two smaller bones, the fibula and patella (kneecap) also make up the knee joint. Tendons connect your leg muscles to these bones, and ligaments provide stability to the region. There are also two pieces of cartilage which provide cushioning between the femur and tibia.

Due to constant use over the course of your life, these structures may eventually wear out. In addition, injuries and damage to the knee from other trauma can prevent the joint from functioning properly. At some point, knee replacement may be required to alleviate pain and restore proper function.

When Should I Consider Knee Replacement?

The most common reason to undergo knee replacement is to alleviate pain associated with osteoarthritis. This painful, debilitating condition occurs when the cartilage in your knee breaks down with age. It can result in difficulty walking, getting out of chairs and climbing stairs.

Other reasons for knee replacement surgery include:

• Knee injuries – Broken bones or torn ligaments can cause your knee to become arthritic over time and limit the motion of your joint
• Rheumatoid arthritis – Your immune system attacks and destroys the lining of your knee
• Deformities – Issues such as bowed legs may require knee surgery to restore proper joint position

Often, more conservative treatments will be explored first. This can include physical therapy to strengthen the structures of your knee and improve your range of motion, and pain medication to improve your daily comfort. When these solutions are no longer effective, it may be time to consider knee surgery.

Knee Surgery Procedures Offered at Colorado Advanced Orthopedics

Colorado Advanced Orthopedics offers a wide range of knee replacement procedures. Our doctors will carefully evaluate the condition of your damaged joint to recommend the ideal procedure for your specific needs.

Knee replacement surgery procedures we offer include:

• Total Knee Arthroplasty – Commonly referred to as total knee replacement, this surgical procedure resurfaces a knee damaged by osteoarthritis. Total knee replacement is needed when arthritis has become so severe that all of the knee cartilage has completely deteriorated. During the procedure, your damaged knee joint will be replaced by an artificial implant joint to alleviate pain and restore proper joint function.
• Partial Knee Arthroplasty – Partial knee replacement surgery is performed to replace only one part of a damaged knee. It can replace either the inside (medial) part, the outside (lateral) part, or the patellofemoral part of the knee (under the kneecap). As with total knee replacement, the damaged portion of the knee will be replaced with an artificial implant. By only replacing the damaged surface of the knee joint, this procedure minimizes trauma to the healthy bone and tissue remaining in the knee.
• Bi-Lateral Knee Replacement Surgery – This procedure is performed when both knees need to be replaced. Bi-lateral knee replacement surgery can be simultaneous or staged. During the simultaneous procedure, both knees are replaced in one surgical procedure. Staged bilateral knee replacement, on the other hand, replaces each knee during separate surgical procedures.

Our surgeons utilize the Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System with knee replacement procedures. This machine allows our surgeons to fully leverage their training to perform your procedure with the greatest levels of precision, while reducing risks and providing you with a highly accurate and personalized surgical experience.

Recovery after Knee Replacement

In most instances, you will spend 2-3 days in the hospital after knee replacement surgery. Our surgeons may prescribe pain medication to help you manage any discomfort.

Physical therapy will begin within two days of your surgery, typically before you leave the hospital. Early stages of physical therapy will focus on weight-bearing therapy such as standing and walking, as well as some occupational therapy to help you adjust to your new prosthetic knee.

It’s important to understand that the success of your procedure will be significantly impacted by how diligently you perform your physical therapy exercises. You’ll need to attend all scheduled physical therapy appointments once you’re discharged from the hospital and perform all prescribed exercises every day.

You can generally resume routine daily activities within 3-6 weeks after knee replacement surgery. You should also be able to drive once you’re able to bend your knee enough to sit in the driver’s seat and have sufficient muscle control to operate the gas and brake pedals. This typically occurs after about three weeks.

You can gradually resume low impact activities such as walking, biking and swimming once you’re cleared to do so by our surgeons. However, you’ll need to avoid high impact activities such as skiing, jogging, tennis and other sports until you’re further along in the healing process. Our surgeons will continue monitoring your progress and let you know when you’re able to resume these activities.

Regaining a Pain Free Life

At Colorado Advanced Orthopedics, we understand the ways that chronic, debilitating knee pain can diminish your quality of life. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons have the extensive training and experience necessary to deliver an exceptional outcome on your knee surgery.

We’re driven by our purpose to make people feel cared for, and our entire staff is truly committed to delivering an amazing patient experience throughout every phase of your surgery, from preoperative visits through your recovery. A key component of this experience is delivering the finest quality medical treatment available. However, we understand that your care encompasses so much more than the treatment we administer. Our team will always go the extra mile by providing comfortable amenities, educating you about your options, and providing compassionate care that makes you feel like part of our family.