Knee Replacement

Knee Replacement Overview

The knees are the largest joints in the body. Because they play an integral role in everyday movements, including walking, an injury or another condition causing knee pain or reduced mobility can be disruptive.

When nonsurgical treatment options such as medication or physical therapy no longer provide relief, knee replacement may be recommended. Each year, nearly 800,000 total knee replacements are performed in the United States.

If you are experiencing lingering or severe knee pain that is disrupting your daily activities, an orthopaedic surgeon at Hattiesburg Clinic can help you determine whether knee replacement is right for you.

Reasons for Knee Replacement

The knee contains three different bones — the lower end of the thigh bone, the upper end of the shinbone and the kneecap. These bones are covered by cartilage, which helps protect the bones and allows them to move easily inside the knee joint.

Ligaments, muscles, tendons and the synovial membrane are also found in the knee and help it function effectively. When any of these components is damaged, it can affect the function of the knee and cause knee pain. A knee replacement may be recommended for hip pain related to a number of conditions, including:

Knee fracture: a partial or total break of the bones comprising the knee

Osteoarthritis: a degenerative condition caused by wear and tear that leads the cartilage surrounding the knee bones to wear away

Posttraumatic arthritis: a form of arthritis that results after a knee fracture or another severe injury like a ligament tear, leading to stiffness and pain

Rheumatoid arthritis:

How Knee Replacement Works

A knee replacement, also called knee arthroplasty, is recommended when nonsurgical treatment options were not effective in alleviating pain and restoring knee function. There are two types of knee replacement — total knee replacement and partial knee replacement.

Total knee replacement, which replaces all three parts of the knee joint, is most common. Partial knee replacement replaces only one or two damaged portions of the knee joint and is recommended most often for those affected by a knee injury.

During a knee replacement, damaged cartilage and bone are removed from the knee joint and replaced with artificial components made of ceramic, metal or plastic. Following a knee replacement, several weeks of intensive physical therapy are needed to restore function and improve mobility. After making a full recovery, those who undergo knee replacement often experience relief from pain and other symptoms, along with improved mobility and increased quality of life.

If you have been experiencing knee pain, talking with an orthopaedic specialist at Hattiesburg Clinic can help you determine your next steps, which may include knee replacement.

Why Choose Hattiesburg Clinic?

When you are preparing to undergo a procedure like knee replacement, you want to turn to physicians who have years of experience and specialized expertise. That is what you will find at Hattiesburg Clinic, where our entire orthopaedic team has comprehensive training and experience in a full spectrum of orthopaedic health conditions. From your initial diagnosis through your post-treatment recovery, you can rely on high-quality, exceptional care.