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During Surgery

Your Knee will be prepared for surgery. First you'll be taken into the operating room and given anesthesia. Once you're asleep, the skin around the knee will be thoroughly scrubbed with an antiseptic liquid. Your knee will be flexed about 90 degrees, and the lower portion of the leg including the foot will be placed in a special device to securely hold it in place during the surgery. Then a tourniquet will be applied to the upper portion of the leg to help slow the flow of blood during the surgery. An incision of appropriate size is then made.

The damaged surfaces of the bone and cartilage will be removed. Precision instruments and guides are used to help make sure the cuts are made at the correct angles so the bones will align properly after the new surfaces (implants) are attached. The amount of bone that is removed depends on the amount of bone that has been damaged by the arthritis or injury. A small portion of the top of the tibia and the back of the kneecap may also be removed, making the end of the bone flat.

The implant will be attached. An implant is attached to each of the three bones using a special kind of cement for bones. The implant that fits over the end of the femur is made of metal. Its surface is rounded and very smooth, covering the front and back of the bone as well as the end. The implant that fits over the top of the tibia usually consists of two parts. A metal baseplate fits over the part of the bone that was cut flat. A durable plastic piece is then attached to the baseplate to serve as a spacer between the baseplate and the metal implant that covers the end of the femur. The implant that covers the back of the patella is also made of a durable plastic.

What to do once you are back home

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