Knee replacement surgery or Knee Arthroplasty or knee resurfacing is a surgical procedure that helps in relieving pain and restoring the normal functioning of the diseased knee joints. The procedure involves removing damaged bone and cartilage from the thighbone, kneecap, and shinbone, and replacing it with a joint-shaped prosthesis made up of alloys, polymers, or high-grade plastics.
Polyethylene and metal alloy are frequently used to make knee replacement implants. The replacement parts for the femur and tibia are comprised of metal alloy, and the polyethylene inserts "your new cartilage"—is made of medical-grade plastic. The implants from Shalby Advanced Technologies, Inc. (SAT) are designed to restore function and provide excellent performance, enabling you to resume an active lifestyle as long as your surgeon permits it.
Types of Knee Replacement Surgeries
Total Knee Replacement Surgery (TKR)
In Total Knee Replacement, whole cartilage and part of the damaged bones are removed from the knee joint, and a metal and plastic implant (Prosthesis) is substituted. In the process, the surgeon replaces three parts of the knee joint. The prosthesis is placed onto the ends of the femur, tibia, and underface of the patella using special bone cement. Usually, metal is used on the end of the femur, and metal or plastic is used on the tibia. However, with the availability of advanced substitutes, surgeons are using newer surfaces and replacing patellar surfaces with plastic.
Unicondylar Knee Replacement (UKR)
Unicondylar Knee Replacement, also referred as Unicompartmental Knee arthroplasty or Partial Knee Arthroplasty, is a surgery that may be considered for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint where only one compartment of the knee is damaged.
Our knee is divided into three major compartments:
Medial compartment (the inside part of the knee)
Lateral compartment (the outside part of the knee)
Patellofemoral compartment (the front of the knee between the kneecap and thighbone)
(Above left) Illustration of a normal knee joint: The medial, lateral, and patellofemoral compartments are shown with red arrows. (Below left) An X-ray of a normal knee joint shows healthy space between the bones.
Advanced osteoarthritis which affects any one of these single compartments may be treated with a partial knee replacement surgery. In this procedure, the injured compartment is replaced with the implant.
The procedure of Knee Replacement Surgery:
Bone Preparation. The damaged cartilage surfaces at the ends of the femur and tibia are removed
Implant Positioning. The removed cartilage and bone are replaced with a metal femur and tibia baseplate that recreates the surface of the femur and tibia bones. These metal parts may be cemented or press-fit into the bone.
Patella Resurfacing. The patella, known as the kneecap, is cut and resurfaced with a plastic oval or circular button. On a case-by-case basis, surgeons may not replace the patella.
Patients who need Knee Replacement Surgery
- Significant stiffness or knee pain that hinders in carrying out daily tasks like walking, climbing stairs, sitting in and out of cars, and getting up from a chair
- Persistent, moderate knee pain that doesn’t let a person sleep or rest
- Knee inflammation or swelling that is not improving even after medications or resting
- Knee deformity, such as a noticeable arch or bow on the inside or outside of the knee
- Depressive feelings because of the inability to carry out daily activities. In case all the other treatment options have failed and not provided relief, then surgery might be the best option.
Reasons Why Knee Replacement fails
Like any other mechanical prosthesis (implant) a knee implant also has a possibility of failure/malfunction. There are several reasons which may attribute to the failure of the prosthesis.
Some of the major ones are:
- Infection
- Aseptic loosening of the joint
- Plastic wear
- Mal-alignment or instability of the joint
- Bad quality of the implant
With over ~32 years of Orthopedic design and manufacturing experience, Shalby Advanced Technologies, Inc. (SAT) is committed to providing high-quality, and reliable joint implants and instruments to the global market. Together, aiming at patient care and clinician relationships, we are dedicated to creating innovative and modern joint replacement products focused on “Restoring mobility and Improving lives.”
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