Knee replacement
Cartilage in your knee can become damaged from arthritis, injury or normal wear-and-tear. If you are experiencing chronic knee pain or limited function, you may benefit from a knee replacement surgery. During this procedure, an orthopedic surgeon will remove the affected cartilage and replace it with artificial pieces.
Knee replacement surgeons along the Wasatch Front
Aching knees not only hurt, but they can impact your quality of life by taking you away from the activities you love.
If you haven't experienced adequate relief with medication and other conservative treatments, MountainStar Healthcare's knee specialists are here to help. They offer partial and total knee replacements to relieve chronic knee pain caused by injury or disease, such as arthritis. Through knee replacement surgery and our comprehensive rehabilitation program, we can help you return to your active lifestyle.
Expert advice, available 24/7
Free medical information is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.
Free medical information is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.
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Understanding the knee joint
The knee joint is located at the meeting point of the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia). The knee cap (patella) covers the area where the two bones meet. As the largest joint in the body, it is the "hinge" joint of the leg, allowing the leg to bend and straighten.
Treating knee pain
When injury or disease damages any part of your knee joint, you may experience knee pain. We offer a wide range of treatments for this through our comprehensive joint care program. Medication and nonsurgical treatments are typically prescribed before a knee specialist recommends knee replacement surgery, depending on the level of damage to your knee.
Types of knee replacement surgery
During knee replacement surgery, your surgeon replaces damaged areas of your knee joint with implants. This allows your knee to move easily and smoothly, like a new, healthy joint.
Implants are made of various materials, such as stainless steel, titanium, chrome, cobalt or polyethylene. Bone cement may also be used in the repair. The choice of implants varies from person to person. Factors considered are your age, activity level, body type and the amount and strength of your bone and bone tissue. Your knee surgeon will choose the implant that is best-suited for your needs and lifestyle.
Total knee replacement surgery
A total knee replacement surgery involves your knee joint being replaced with a prosthetic joint. During total knee replacement surgery, a relatively thin amount of bone is removed from the end of the thighbone, the top of the leg bone and the underside of the kneecap. This creates bone surfaces that allow the implant to have a good fit.
Most of the major ligaments and tendons of the knee are left in place so the knee can bend and straighten, yet remains steady in position from side-to-side and front-to-back.
Partial knee replacement surgery (knee resurfacing)
During a partial knee replacement surgery, also called a knee resurfacing surgery, your surgeon replaces only the damaged area of the knee. This procedure is an effective alternative to total knee replacement for candidates who do not have damage to all areas within the knee joint.
Minimally invasive partial knee replacement typically offers a shorter recovery time than a total knee replacement because it requires smaller incisions.
Robotic knee replacement surgery
At MountainStar Healthcare, we are dedicated to bringing innovative medical technology to our patients. This is why we are pleased to offer robotic surgery for total and partial knee replacements. With these robot-assisted surgical technologies, your surgeon can preplan your procedure, allowing for increased precision and accuracy when restoring your joint health.
How robotic knee replacement surgery works
The first step in the robotic knee replacement process is obtaining a computed tomography (CT) scan of your knee joint. This CT scan is used to generate a 3D virtual model of your knee anatomy, which is then loaded into the robotic system's software. Your knee surgeon uses this 3D model to personalized a preoperative surgical plan based on your unique anatomy. Based on this plan, your surgeon will use the technology's robotic arm to assist in performing your surgery. The system also allows your surgeon to make adjustments to your plan during surgery, as needed.
When the surgeon prepares the bone for the implant, the system guides the surgeon within the predefined area and helps prevent the surgeon from moving outside the planned boundaries. This level of precision provides a more accurate placement and alignment of implants and can help your surgeon spare healthy tissue.
Knee replacement recovery and rehabilitation
After your knee surgery, we will begin physical therapy and rehabilitation in the hospital as soon as you are able. Our physical therapists will create a personalized therapy regimen to help you begin using the affected knee. Our goal is to help you get moving to promote a quick and healthy recovery.
When to call your doctor after knee replacement surgery
Your knee specialist will provide you with postoperative care instructions. It is important that you follow your doctor's guidelines and instructions to ensure a successful recovery.
Once at home, please call your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
- An increase in knee pain
- Fever of 100.4 F or higher
- Pain or swelling in the calf or leg
- Shaking chills
- Unusual redness, heat or drainage at the incision site
Additionally, if you have trouble breathing or chest pain, call 911.