Top 4 Types of Knee Replacement to Know About

Knee stiffness, pain, and instability are the common problems found in people over 50. According to the experts, around 150 million people suffer from chronic knee pain and disorder, out of which 40 million people require total knee replacement surgery. While talking about Punjab, females between 30-60 years are becoming victims of knee aortoarteritis (KOA). Studies have shown that the prevalence of KOA is higher in women who have gone through menopause. Women who suffer from knee arthritis have often been seen searching for the best knee replacement surgeon in the area. 

Physicians recommend knee replacement to those whose knee problems do not recover from the basic-medical treatments and medications. It is also known as Knee arthroplasty. During this procedure, the surgeon replaces the weight-bearing facet of the knee. It eventually reduces pain and boosts joint mobility. In knee surgery, the damaged bones and hard cartilage are replaced by artificial plastic parts.

Who Need Knee Replacement

Generally, old-people who suffer from avascular necrosis, osteonecrosis, or osteoarthritis need knee implant surgery. However, sometimes young people also undergo Knee replacement due to car whiplash, sports injury, or any other accidental incident. This surgical procedure helps you to get back on track and perform routine activities without pain. If you are also experiencing severe knee pain &  osteoarthritis and planning for knee surgery,  you must know the various types of Knee-replacement procedures. In this article, we will put light on 4-major knee surgery. But, before that let us discuss the basic knee structure and functioning.

Knee-health is crucial to perform routine tasks. The intersection of the lower end of the thigh bone (femur) and the upper end of the shin bone (tibia) is known as the knee joint. This joint is covered with a small bone in the front side, which is called a knee cap or (patella). The ends of these three bones are surrounded by articular cartilage. It is a substance that provides mobility to the joints.

Apart from this, the Menisci C-shaped cartilage is present between the Femur and Tibia. This rubbery substance acts as a shock absorbent and gives extra protection to the knee. Also, a large ligament is present around the knee area, which holds the Femur and Tibba together. All the knee surface is protected by a thin shield called the synovial membrane. This membrane secretes essential fluids that grease the cartilage and avoid friction in the knee joint. 

Generally, all these components work together in an orderly manner. However, knee disorder or injury can hamper their functioning. In such a case, it’s essential to get the help of the best ortho doctor. 

Here are four main types of Knee replacement surgeries -:

1. Total Knee Replacement

The first knee replacement surgery was performed in 1968. However, with time the techniques and material used in knee surgery have been improved. It is one of the great milestones in medical history. The experts have found that around 1,20,000 knee replacements are performed in India every year. 

If you feel difficulty doing the simplest day-to-day things, such as walking, sitting, climbing stairs, etc., and feel severe knee pain while sitting or sleeping, you should consider total knee replacement surgery. In this procedure, the entire knee joint is replaced by artificial parts, called a prosthesis in medical terms. The lower end of the Femur is taken off and replaced with metallic parts, and the upper part of the tibia is replaced with a plastic substance. In addition to this, a small plastic button is placed under the kneecap. 

2. Partial Knee Replacement

Partial knee replacement includes replacing the single damaged part of the knee joint; it could be the kneecap, the inside (medial), or the grove at the femur bone. It is performed to reduce the catastrophic effects of osteoarthritis on a single compartment of the knee. This surgical procedure is also called uni-compartment small-replacement surgery. 

Partial knee replacement is less invasive than total knee replacement surgery. It has several advantages, such as shorter hospital stay, less post-surgery pain, less blood loss, and less recovery time. The best knee replacement surgeon usually recommends partial knee replacement surgery only to young people.

3. Knee cap Replacement

Knee cap replacement surgery is performed to repair the knee joint and regain mobility. In this procedure, the surface of the knee is covered with the plastic component. The main reason for this procedure is knee osteoarthritis or knee injury. It is provided to the patient when the cartilage of the knee joints is damaged.

4. Complex Knee Replacement

Complex knee replacement is meant for those people who have severe knee problems and need knee replacement surgery more than one time. This surgery is more difficult than the other knee replacement implants.

The Bottom Line -:

All the above surgical procedures have their own benefits. The surgeon first analyses your knee condition and will suggest the specific knee replacement surgery accordingly.