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ProcedureInitial knee Exposure
After you have been prepared for surgery and given a general anesthetic, the surgeon will first make an incision along the front of your knee, above the patella (kneecap) to below it. Once open, the patella, which is attached by tendons, is moved so that the underside is exposed. This exposes the joint underneath as well. The knee is then bent to expose the ends of both bones. This allows the surgeon to reach the areas he or she needs during the surgery.
Removal of any diseased boneThe surgeon will first remove any diseased bone and the portions of bone necessary to accept the knee implant, using special instruments designed for this purpose.Bones and patella are resurfaced / Implant is insertedOnce reshaped, the ends of the femur and tibia are replaced with metal and plastic. A metal or plastic "tray" is placed on top of the tibia. This piece is generally set on a stem that is inserted into the bone. It will be fixed with either a special type of bone cement or with screws.A special kind of low-friction polyethylene insert, sized and fitted specifically for your knee, is placed on top of this tray and secured. Next, a highly polished, highly pure implant-grade metal that has also been sized for your knee is placed over the end of the prepared femur and set in place with bone cement. Finally, the underside of the patella (kneecap) is resurfaced and a small plastic piece is placed on the rear side where it will cover the new joint. After the bones are realigned, the patella is returned to its normal location so that it covers the joint. The surgeon then closes the knee, either with stitches or staples. It is packed with surgical dressings, and small tubes may be inserted to drain any accumulated blood out of the joint. Click here to read more about post-surgery expectations after total knee replacement surgery. To see if the ADVANCE® Medial Pivot knee system is the right option for your knee replacement surgery, locate a physician in your area with our Physician Locator. Partial knee replacement requires shorter hospital stay If you have less extensive knee damage and your surgeon decides that a partial knee replacement is best for you, the ADVANCE® Unicompartmental Knee System, or Uni-Knee, is an option. With Wright’s Uni-knee, most patients experience a shorter hospital stay and recovery time, less rehabilitation, and a significantly smaller scar. Another benefit to the less-invasive Uni-Knee surgery is the amount of bone conserved. ADVANCE® Uni-Knees are designed to leave as much unaffected bone in the body as possible, creating a healthier knee environment and more options if future surgery is needed.
To learn more about the ADVANCE® Uni-Knee, or to see if it is the right option for your knee replacement surgery, locate a physician in your area using our Physician Locator. Related LinksAdditional ResourcesAfter recovery, most patients can resume their active lifestyles like walk every day, ride a bike, and do many of the activities they used to do before their knees started getting so painful. To learn more about implant lifespan and precautions, click here. High impact sports should be avoided and a leg brace should be used for any athletic activity.
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