What You Need To Know About Total Knee Replacement
Have you tried everything to get some relief from your knee pain? If you are no stranger to braces, canes, cortisone injections, and other methods of dealing with knee pain, yet you still have knee pain, you may want to consider total knee replacement. This successful, time-tested method of eliminating knee pain and returning mobility may be exactly what you need.
Knee pain that interferes with the simplest activities - standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, and even resting - needs to be addressed decisively.
Total knee replacement is the treatment of choice for this kind of pain and inconvenience. You know it is safe because it has been practiced successfully since 1968. During that time, the methods and materials used for this popular operation have just gotten better and better. In the United States, alone, there are over 581,000 knee replacement surgeries performed every year.
Have you spoken with your orthopedic surgeon about knee replacement yet, or are you just starting to think about it? Either way, you are sure to find useful information in this article.
Click here for more on total knee replacement .
What Are Knees Made Of?
Three bones make up the knee. The thigh bone, the shin bone, and the knee cap. Your orthopedic surgeon may refer to these as the femur, the tibia, and the patella - respectively. As the largest and most used joint in the body, the knee is most likely to be injured.
Holding the knee together are the medial and lateral collateral ligaments and the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments. These strong bands of tissue connect the femur and the tibia and stabilize the knee.
The muscles of the thigh also play a strong part in the strength and stability of the knee. Strong thigh muscles mean strong knees.
Articular cartilage forms a pad between the bones of the knee. This pad keeps the bones separated and allows them to move without grinding against each other. With this smooth cushioning your knee can move smoothly and easily. Additionally, the knee comes equipped with natural shock absorbers called the lateral menisci. These are semicircular, fibrous cartilage rings that add stability to the overall structure.
All of the bones of the knee are lined with synovial membrane. This thin, smooth tissue makes a special lubricant that keeps all of the parts of the knee operating smoothly.
When perfectly balanced, the knee operates smoothly and efficiently. However, it is easy for the knee to suffer injury or become the victim of arthritis. When this happens, the balance is thrown askew. The result is pain and a loss of strength and mobility.
The usual candidate for total knee replacement surgery is between the ages of sixty and eighty; however, this is not always the case. Many very young patients and many very old patients have also had successful knee replacement surgery for everything from juvenile arthritis to degenerative arthritis to injury. When your orthopedic surgeon evaluates your case, he or she will look more at your pain and your loss of mobility than at your age. - 17273
Knee pain that interferes with the simplest activities - standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, and even resting - needs to be addressed decisively.
Total knee replacement is the treatment of choice for this kind of pain and inconvenience. You know it is safe because it has been practiced successfully since 1968. During that time, the methods and materials used for this popular operation have just gotten better and better. In the United States, alone, there are over 581,000 knee replacement surgeries performed every year.
Have you spoken with your orthopedic surgeon about knee replacement yet, or are you just starting to think about it? Either way, you are sure to find useful information in this article.
Click here for more on total knee replacement .
What Are Knees Made Of?
Three bones make up the knee. The thigh bone, the shin bone, and the knee cap. Your orthopedic surgeon may refer to these as the femur, the tibia, and the patella - respectively. As the largest and most used joint in the body, the knee is most likely to be injured.
Holding the knee together are the medial and lateral collateral ligaments and the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments. These strong bands of tissue connect the femur and the tibia and stabilize the knee.
The muscles of the thigh also play a strong part in the strength and stability of the knee. Strong thigh muscles mean strong knees.
Articular cartilage forms a pad between the bones of the knee. This pad keeps the bones separated and allows them to move without grinding against each other. With this smooth cushioning your knee can move smoothly and easily. Additionally, the knee comes equipped with natural shock absorbers called the lateral menisci. These are semicircular, fibrous cartilage rings that add stability to the overall structure.
All of the bones of the knee are lined with synovial membrane. This thin, smooth tissue makes a special lubricant that keeps all of the parts of the knee operating smoothly.
When perfectly balanced, the knee operates smoothly and efficiently. However, it is easy for the knee to suffer injury or become the victim of arthritis. When this happens, the balance is thrown askew. The result is pain and a loss of strength and mobility.
The usual candidate for total knee replacement surgery is between the ages of sixty and eighty; however, this is not always the case. Many very young patients and many very old patients have also had successful knee replacement surgery for everything from juvenile arthritis to degenerative arthritis to injury. When your orthopedic surgeon evaluates your case, he or she will look more at your pain and your loss of mobility than at your age. - 17273
About the Author:
Dr. Tarlow is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon with over 20 years specializing in knee surgery. He opened his own clinic, Advanced Knee Care, with a focus on specialty patient care. Click here to learn more about Dr. Tarlow, arthroscopic surgeries and full knee replacement.
posted by X - Men at
4:40 AM
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