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Knee replacement surgery

Discover the proper procedure for your needs

Knee replacement surgery
Discover the right procedure for your needs
  • Every patient is different. You deserve a personalized solution for your unique anatomy
  • Every patient is different. You deserve a personalized solution for your unique anatomy
  • Every patient is different. You deserve a personalized solution for your unique anatomy
  • Every patient is different. You deserve a personalized solution for your unique anatomy

If your knee pain or reduced knee mobility does not improve after conservative non-surgical knee treatments, your doctor may recommend you undergo a knee replacement surgery.

In this procedure, the bone and cartilage of the joint damaged by arthritis are removed and replaced with highly biocompatible metal and plastic components that form an artificial knee joint, or knee prosthesis.

 

Total knee replacement pictures - GMK Sphere

A femoral component replaces the diseased portion of the femur (thigh bone).

A tibial component replaces the diseased portion of the tibia (shin bone).

A plastic insert between the femoral component and the tibial baseplate replaces the cartilage function allowing the thigh and shin bones to slide on each other.

Depending on the location and severity of your knee arthritis, your surgeon will decide between a partial knee replacement or total knee replacement.

Osteoarthritis
Unicompartmental knee
Partial knee replacement surgery

When osteoarthritis is isolated and affects only one portion of the knee joint, usually the medial compartment inner side of knee, then partial knee replacement surgery (also known as unicompartmental knee replacement) may be recommended by your doctor.

This is one of the least-invasive and most conservative surgical treatment options for patients with osteoarthritis affecting only one knee compartment. It allows you to preserve the healthy, unaffected cartilage, bone, and ligament structures of your knee anatomy.

Unicompartmental knee

Partial knee replacement surgery offers several benefits, including:

Preservation of more of your natural knee structures Healthy, unaffected cartilage, bone, soft tissue, and ligaments are kept intact, helping to provide stability, balance, and maintain more natural knee function after surgery.
Reduction in knee pain, REGAINING mobility, and improvement in quality of life Pain may be rapidly and dramatically reduced or eliminated, and you may be able to regain most of the original mobility of your knee.
Potential to delay or avoid total knee replacement By undergoing partial knee replacement before the disease progresses, you may be able to delay or prevent osteoarthritis from spreading and having to replace all three compartments of the knee with artificial implants.
Potential for a short hospital stay and quicker recovery Partial knee replacement is a minimally invasive procedure that uses smaller incisions, instruments, and implants. This may allow you to spend less time in the hospital, have a quicker recovery, and return to normal activities faster.
 
Unicompartmental knee

If you are a candidate for partial knee replacement surgery, the Medacta MOTO Partial Knee may be right for you!

The MOTO Partial Knee System is an innovative unicompartmental knee specifically designed to replicate the anatomy of the medial, lateral or patellofemoral compartments of your knee during partial knee replacement surgery.

MOTO was created from a very large database of over 45,000 patient CT and MRI scans, offering size and shape options to help improve the fit for every patient.

Arthritis
Reduction in knee pain
Knee stability
Total knee replacement surgery

Total knee replacement is recommended when arthritis affects more than one compartment of your knee. During the surgery, the bone and cartilage of the joint damaged by arthritis are removed and replaced with highly biocompatible metal and plastic components that form an artificial knee joint, or knee prosthesis. The undersurface of the kneecap may also be replaced with an implant made of plastic.

Video

Total knee replacement surgery has become a very common and safe procedure to aid in the treatment of severly damaged knee. As a matter of fact, it has been used by orthopedic surgeons for nearly 50 years! Patients who receive a total knee replacement may experience significant benefits, including:

Reduction in knee pain Pain may be rapidly and dramatically reduced or eliminated.
ReGAINING mobilityYou may regain significant mobility with your new knee!
Improvement in quality of life Your everyday activities and social life may no longer be limited by pain and reduced mobility.
 
Total knee replacement pictures - GMK Sphere

Stability of the Knee after knee replacement is important as you return to your everyday life. Proper stability assists with daily activities, including walking, going up and down stairs, moving from a sitting to standing position, or getting into a car.

The GMK Sphere knee implant is designed to approximate natural knee motion that replicates the movement of the healthy knee. It allows knee stability in the inner side, or medial compartment of the knee, through a ball-in-socket mechanism that replicates one's natural anatomy.

After total knee replacement surgery, many patients prefer a stable knee design with a medial ball-in-socket compared to other conventional knee designs, as they feel more natural, more stable, and stronger during common daily activities.2

Did You Know
Metal hypersensitivity might arise from prolonged contact with metals3,4. This affects about 10% to 15% of the general population3.
knee replacement pictures - SensiTiN

In knee replacement surgery, alternative options can reduce the risk of hypersensitivity after knee replacement and the occurrence of undesired effects5.

To reduce patients’ exposure to metals, Medacta has developed SensiTiN coating, which is made of a highly biocompatible material characterized by a gold-yellow color.

SensiTiN coating firmly attaches to the surface of the knee replacement and acts as a barrier between the implant and the surrounding tissues6.

This property makes SensiTiN-coated implants the preferred choice for treating patients who may present with the potential of metal hypersensitivity, and it is also considered a valid means of reducing the likelihood of hypersensitivity after knee replacement7,8,9.

Medical tips
Assistance
Before knee replacement surgery
Knee replacement surgery

Medical preparation

Before undergoing your total knee replacement surgery, your doctor will provide you with a list of preoperative appointments. It is a good idea to have a coach to accompany you to your pre-op visits and be available on the day of and after surgery. This person may be a partner, an adult child, sibling, or close friend. You will also undergo a complete physical examination to assess your general condition and to ensure that there are no factors that could interfere with your knee replacement surgery.

Knee replacement surgery

Home preparation

Planning for your return home after knee replacement surgery is crucial for your recovery. Many doctors recommend having your coach assist you in the immediate postoperative period. This person should stay with you in your home after your surgery. If no one is available, your medical team can evaluate alternative options. To prevent accidents at home, It is also advised to remove loose rugs and install handrails in your bath and along the stairs.

Patient Optimized Pathway (POP) logo

POP - Patient Optimized Pathway

The Patient Optimized Pathway is an interactive application designed to allow your surgeon and medical care team to accompany you throughout the entire episode of care. POP gives you information on your knee replacement surgery, rehabilitation support, and constant connection to your care team through a dedicated chat and useful reminders and reports. It's a digital tool personalized for you!

Knee surgery
Anesthesia
Pain after surgery
The day of your knee replacement surgery

The knee replacement surgery will take about 1 to 2 hours. It will be preceded by pre-surgical preparation and followed by monitoring in the recovery room.

You will spend more time in the pre-operative area and recovery than you will in the operating room, due to the time needed for your surgery preparation, administration of anesthesia, and monitoring as you recover from the anesthetic.

Special care is taken to relieve pain after the knee replacement surgery. If an overnight stay is required, do not hesitate to call for help, even in the middle of the night. Regular checks will be made by the nurses.

Knee replacement surgery
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2) Pritchett, James W. “Patients Prefer A Bicruciate-Retaining or the Medial Pivot Total Knee Prosthesis.” JOA 2011-Feb; 26(2): 224–28.
3) Hallab N. et al., «Metal Sensitivity in Patients with Orthopaedic Implants», The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, vol. 83A, n. 3, pp. 428-436, 2001. 
4) Eftekhary N. et al., «Metal Hypersensitivity in Total Joint Arthroplasty», JBJS Reviews, vol. 6, n. 12, p. e1, 2018.
5) Thienpont E., «Titanium niobium nitride knee implants are not inferior to chrome cobalt components for primary total knee arthroplasty», Arch Orthop Trauma Surg, 2015.
6) Medacta: data on file.
7) Bader R. et al., «Alternative materials and solutions in total knee arthroplasty for patients with metal allergy [article in German]», Orthopade, vol. 37, n. 2, pp. 136-142, 2008.
8) Thomsen M. et al., «Pain in a chromium-allergic patient with total knee arthroplasty: disappearance of symptoms after revision with a special surface coated TKA: a case report», Acta Orthop., vol. 82, n. 3, pp. 386-388, 2011.
9) Thomsen M. et al., «Use of allergy implants in Germany: results of a survey [article in German», Orthopade, pp. 597-601, 2013.

The information contained here is intended for reference only and does not represent or constitute medical advice or a recommendation. Each patient must be examined and advised individually by a physician, and this information does not replace the need for such examination and/or advice in whole or in part. Results are not necessarily typical, indicative, or representative of all patients. Results may vary due to health status, weight, activity, and other variables. Not all patients are candidates for this product and/or procedure. The appropriate postoperative activities and pain management will differ from patient to patient. Talk to your doctor about your condition and about whether the presented procedure is appropriate for you, considering the risks associated. All content is protected by copyright, trademarks and/or other intellectual property rights of Medacta and cannot be used without the written consent of Medacta. In good faith, Medacta asserts that this material does not infringe or misappropriate any intellectual property rights of any third party.

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