Lifespan’s A - Z Health Information Library

The knee is a complex joint, which is made up of the distal end of the femur (the femoral condyles), and the proximal end of the tibia (the tibial plateau). The femoral condyles usually glide smoothly on the tibial plateau, allowing for smooth, painless motion of the lower leg.

The most common cause of knee damage requiring knee replacement is osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative disease of the bones of the knee which cause the surfaces of the knee joint to become irregular and rough, preventing smooth painless motion of the knee joint.

Knee joint replacement may be recommended for:

• knee osteoarthritis or arthritis, which causes knee pain that has failed to respond to conservative therapy (NSAID medication for 6 months or more)
• decreased knee function caused by arthritis
• inability to work because of knee pain
• inability to sleep through the night because of knee pain
• inability to walk more than 3 blocks because of knee pain
• loose knee prosthesis
• some knee fractures

The operation is performed under general anesthesia. The orthopedic surgeon makes an incision over the affected knee. The patella (knee cap) is moved out of the way, and the heads of the femur and tibia are shaved to eliminate any rough parts and to permit a better adhesion of the prosthesis. The two parts of the prosthesis are implanted into the thigh bone and the tibia bone using a special bone cement.

You will return from surgery with a large dressing to the knee area. A small drainage tube will be placed during surgery to help drain excess fluids from the joint area. Your leg will be placed in a continuous passive motion (CPM) device (a mechanical device that flexes (bends) and extends (straightens) the knee at a pre-set rate and amount of flexion).

Gradually, the rate and amount of flexion will be increased as tolerated. The leg should always be in this device when in bed. The CPM device helps speed recovery, decreases post-operative pain, bleeding and infection.

You will experience moderate pain after surgery. However, you may receive patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), or epidural analgesics to control your pain for the first 3 days after surgery. The pain should gradually decrease, and by the third day after surgery, oral analgesic medications may be sufficient to control your pain.

Try to schedule your pain medications about one half hour before walking or position changes. You will also return from surgery with several IV lines in place to provide hydration and nutrition. The IV will remain in place until you are taking adequate amounts of oral fluids.

Prophylactic (preventive) antibiotics may be given to reduce the risk of developing an infection, necessitating removal of the artificial joint.

You will also return from surgery wearing anti-embolism stockings or an inflatable pneumatic compression stockings. These devices are used to reduce your risk of developing blood clots, which are more common after lower extremity surgery.

Additionally, you will be encouraged to start moving and walking early after surgery. You will be assisted out of bed to a chair on the first day after surgery. When in bed, bend and straighten your ankles frequently to prevent development of blood clots.