What is knee replacement?
When non-surgical treatments like physical therapy and medication don’t bring relief, your doctor may recommend a knee replacement. But you may not even want to think about surgery. We understand. The good news? Knee replacement has come a long way in the past decades, although there are still risks. Newer techniques, like Mako, have been associated with a reduced impact on bone and soft tissue.1 And many knee replacement recipients experience significant improvement in pain, stiffness, and function of their replaced joint.2 Talk to your doctor to find a treatment plan right for you.
What happens during knee replacement surgery?
During total knee replacement (which is also called total knee arthroplasty), your surgeon removes the damaged surfaces of the knee joint and replaces them with metal and plastic components referred to as the prosthesis or implant. The implant is designed to replicate the function of a healthy knee.
Speak with a knee replacement surgeon.
How total knee replacement works
Learn about knee replacement options
What makes our knee replacement implants so different?
Our knee replacement implants are different from traditional knee replacement implants. Others follow an oval motion, while our Triathlon® knee implant is designed to replace the knee’s naturally circular motion and to offer enhanced stability as you bend and flex your knee. 3-5
The single radius design of our knee is one key feature that allows for enhanced stability. Single radius means that as your knee flexes, the center of rotation stays the same, similar to a circle. Our knee replacement implant has been used in more than 4.9 million knee replacement surgeries worldwide.6
Is knee replacement an option for me?
Knee replacement surgery is for:
- People with severe knee pain or stiffness resulting from noninflammatory degenerative joint disease (including osteoarthritis, traumatic arthritis and avascular necrosis), rheumatoid arthritis or posttraumatic arthritis
- Those who haven’t experienced adequate relief with conservative treatment options, like bracing, medication or joint fluid supplements
Speak with a knee replacement surgeon.
References:
- Haddad, F.S., et al. Iatrogenic Bone and Soft Tissue Trauma in Robotic-Arm Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty Compared With Conventional Jig-Based Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Cohort Study and Validation of a New Classification System. J Arthroplasty. 2018 Aug;33(8):2496-2501. Epub 2018 Mar 27.
- AAOS. Ortho Info. Total Knee Replacement. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/total-knee-replacement/ Accessed 23 April 2019.
- Designed to maintain collateral ligament stability throughout the range of motion. Stryker-Initiated Dynamic Computer Simulations of Passive ROM and Oxford Rig Test, Stephen Piazza, 2003.
- Wang H, Simpson KJ, Ferrara MS, Chamnongkich S, Kinsey T, Mahoney OM. Biomechanical differences exhibited during sit-to-stand between total knee arthroplasty designs of varying radii. J Arthroplasty. 2006;21(8):1193-1199.
- Gómez-Barrena E, Fernandez-García C, Fernandez-Bravo A, Cutillas-Ruiz R, Bermejo-Fernandez G. Functional performance with a single-radius femoral design total knee arthroplasty. Clin Ortho Relates Res. 2010;468(5):1214-1220.
- Triathlon sales report: Worldwide sales. Stryker Orthopaedics. 2023
Knee Replacements
Total knee replacement is intended for use in individuals with joint disease resulting from degenerative, rheumatoid and post-traumatic arthritis, and for moderate deformity of the knee.
Knee replacement surgery is not appropriate for patients with certain types of infections, any mental or neuromuscular disorder which would create an unacceptable risk of prosthesis instability, prosthesis fixation failure or complications in postoperative care, compromised bone stock, skeletal immaturity, severe instability of the knee, or excessive body weight.
As with any surgery, knee replacement surgery has serious risks which include, but are not limited to, pain, infection, bone fracture, peripheral neuropathies (nerve damage), circulatory compromise (including deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the legs)), genitourinary disorders (including kidney failure), gastrointestinal disorders (including paralytic ileus (loss of intestinal digestive movement)), vascular disorders (including thrombus (blood clots), blood loss, or changes in blood pressure or heart rhythm), bronchopulmonary disorders (including emboli, stroke or pneumonia), heart attack, and death.
Implant related risks which may lead to a revision include dislocation, loosening, fracture, nerve damage, heterotopic bone formation (abnormal bone growth in tissue), wear of the implant, metal and/or foreign body sensitivity, soft tissue imbalance, osteolysis (localized progressive bone loss), and reaction to particle debris. Knee implants may not provide the same feel or performance characteristics experienced with a normal healthy joint.
The information presented is for educational purposes only. Speak to your doctor to decide if joint replacement surgery is right for you. Individual results vary and not all patients will return to the same postoperative activity level. The lifetime of any joint replacement is limited and varies with each individual. Your doctor will counsel you about how to best maintain your activities in order to potentially prolong the lifetime of the device. Such strategies include not engaging in high-impact activities, such as running, as well as maintaining a healthy weight. It is important to closely follow your doctor’s instructions regarding post-surgery activity, treatment and follow-up care. Ask your doctor if the joint replacement is right for you.
Stryker Corporation or its other divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or service marks: Mako, Mobile Bearing Hip, Stryker, Together with our customers, we are driven to make healthcare better. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders.
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