The most common reason for knee replacement surgery is to repair joint damage caused by osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. People who need knee replacement surgery usually have problems walking, climbing stairs, and getting in and out of chairs. They may also experience moderate or severe knee pain at rest. Followed by rehabilitation, knee replacement can relieve pain and restore range of motion and function of your knee joint.
Since knee replacement surgery was first performed in 1968, vast improvements in the word of technology and technique have made it even more effective. Total knee replacements are one of the most successful procedures in all of medicine, with more that 600,000 surgeries occuring each year in the United States.
If your knee is severely damaged by arthritis or injury, simple activities such as walking or climbing stairs may be extremely difficult or painful. You may even feel pain while you are sitting or lying down. If nonsurgical treatments such as medications and using walking supports are not helpful, you may want to consider total knee replacement surgery. Joint replacement surgery is a safe and effective procedure to relieve pain, correct leg deformity, and help you resume normal activities.