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TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT
Anatomy of the Knee
Your knee is a complex hinge joint involving three bones; the thigh bone (femur), the lower leg bone (tibia) and the knee cap (patella). Each of these bones is covered with articular cartilage, a slick, white tissue layer that allows the bones to move smoothly one on the other. The joint is maintained by strong ligaments, which attach one bone to the next and help direct the motion of the knee as it bends. The large muscles of the leg attach to the patella and to the tibia, providing the ability to straighten and bend the knee.
Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, trauma, obesity, deformity, and prior surgeries may result in the destruction of the smooth cartilage surfaces of the knee. When this degeneration occurs, the knee frequently becomes painful and stiff, limiting your ability to stand or walk for long periods of time.
Total Knee Replacement Surgery
The cartilage on the ends of the bone in the knee is often thinned or missing entirely. In total knee replacement surgery, the remaining cartilage and a small amount of bone is removed with a series of precise jigs and instruments that allow the ends of the bone to be capped with metal surfaces. A thick, hard plastic insert serves as the frictional barrier between the metal surfaces, allowing the artificial knee to move smoothly similar to a natural knee. In simple terms, the arthritic part of the knee is removed and replaced with an artificial surface.
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