Knee Replacement Surgery: An Asheboro, N.C. Orthopedic Expert Can Offer You Options

September 25th, 2011 by backoffice

There are a few knee replacement surgery options available nowadays. Dealing with knee pain is no longer necessary, as there is a procedure to suit anyone’s preference or medical needs. The most important part of the whole process is to trust your medical well-being to expert orthopedic surgeons in the Asheboro, N.C. area.

No other pain can quite compare to what you feel when it hits the knee joint. Things like standing, sitting, walking, running, and sometimes-even breathing can cause pain and anguish. When the “first line of defense” treatments like medication and walking aids no longer bring relief, it’s time to consider knee replacement surgery.

One of the most prominent advances in orthopedic surgery in the twentieth century is that of the knee replacement. This knee surgery was first performed in 1968, and because of the vast improvements in techniques and equipment, over 580,000 knee replacement surgeries are completed in the U.S. each year. Let’s look at the options an expert Asheboro, N.C. orthopedic surgeon can offer you.

The options for knee surgery

Total knee replacement: In general, a total knee replacement is performed on those between the ages of 60 and 80, yet each case is evaluated individually. The recommendation for surgery will not be based on a person’s age, but rather their level of pain and disability. Entire knee replacements are performed on people of all ages, from young teens who have juvenile arthritis to elderly patients with a degenerative form of arthritis.

A few of the situations where you may benefit from a total knee replacement surgery are the following:

Excruciating knee pain that affects your daily activities like walking or sitting in a chair. Walking more than a block at a time may be difficult
Moderate pain, even while at rest
Chronic inflammation in the knee that is not helped with medication or rest
Obvious knee deformities, such as a bowing of the knee
The knee is overly stiff, making straightening or bending the knee difficult
Pain relievers offer no relief
No improvement is seen after other treatments like physical therapy, cortisone injections or surgeries

Unicompartmental knee replacement: This option is far less common than a complete knee replacement, and is only an option in limited instances. However, the techniques and instruments used for this procedure have vastly improved over the years. A Unicompartmental knee replacement requires the use of a less invasive incision as well. This technique will replace an individual compartment of an arthritic knee.

The joint itself has three compartments; the patellofemoral compartment (kneecap), the lateral compartment (outer) and the medial compartment (inner). If either the lateral or the medial compartment is damaged, it could possibly be replaced with a unicompartmental implant. However, if at least two compartments are damaged, then this option may not be the way to go. Typically, this procedure is for an older, slender person and only about seven of every 100 patients having an arthritic knee are candidates.

Subvastus knee replacement: Fortunately, for Asheboro, N.C. patients, your orthopedic surgery options include this relatively new procedure, that is not offered in all areas yet. The process is different, using a sub-vastus technique, which requires a smaller incision than a typical replacement arthroscopy would. Since it is minimally invasive joint replacement, the subvastus approach will result in less blood loss, a faster recovery, less time at the hospital, and a smaller scar. Studies have proven that a subvastus knee replacement will lead to a quicker post-operative improvement of quadriceps strength, and patients will be able to perform a straight leg raise much sooner.

Page 1 of 2 | Next page