Knee: Total Knee Arthroplasty

What is a Knee Replacement Surgery?
Knee replacement, also called arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure to replace a damaged knee with a prosthesis (an artificial joint). This surgery may be considered for someone who has severe arthritis or a severe knee injury.
The goal of knee replacement surgery is to replace the parts of the knee joint that have been damaged and to relieve knee pain that cannot be controlled by other treatments.

Other related procedures that may be used to help diagnose joint disorders include x-ray, joint aspiration, bone scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT scan), arthroscopy, and arthrography. Please see these procedures for additional information.

Anatomy of the Knee
Joints are the areas where two or more bones meet. Most joints are mobile, allowing the bones to move. Basically, the knee is two long leg bones held together by muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Each bone end is covered with a layer of cartilage that absorbs shock and protects the knee.

There are two groups of muscles involved in the knee, including the quadriceps muscles (located on the front of the thighs), which straighten the legs, and the hamstring muscles (located on the back of the thighs), which bend the leg at the knee.

Tendons are tough cords of connective tissue that connect muscles to bones. Ligaments are elastic bands of tissue that connect bone to bone. Some ligaments of the knee provide stability and protection of the joints, while other ligaments limit forward and backward movement of the tibia (shin bone).

The knee consists of the following:

Tibia: shin bone or larger bone of the lower leg
Femur: thighbone or upper leg bone
Patella: kneecap
Cartilage: a type of connective tissue made up of cells and fibers that covers the surface of a bone at a joint; cartilage is wear-resistant and helps reduce the friction of movement within a joint
Synovial Membrane: a tissue that lines the joint and seals it into a joint capsule; the synovial membrane secretes synovial fluid (a clear, sticky fluid) around the joint to lubricate it
Ligament: a type of tough, elastic connective tissue that surrounds the joint to give support and limits the joint's movement
Tendon: a type of tough connective tissue that connects muscles to bones and helps to control movement of the joint
Meniscus: a curved part of cartilage in the knees and other joints

Please note: this information is for informational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnosing an injury, and the information provided should not be used to replace medical treatment.