The
knee is a complicated joint which is made up of muscle, tendons,
ligaments, and bones. These components permit it to move in
a number of directions enabling us to sit, stand, walk, climb
stairs, and change direction (pivot). There are three bones:
the femur (thigh bone), the tibia (shin bone), and the patella
(knee cap). The surface of the ends of these bones is covered
in cartilage. A cartilage pad, called the meniscus, sits between
the femur and the tibia. The entire joint is bathed in a slippery
fluid - synovial fluid - which lubricates the joint and also
supplies the cartilage with nutrients. The knee can be damaged
by trauma (for example, falls, sports injuries, car accidents)
or through disease such as with arthritis. Following trauma
or disease, the articular cartilage wears away and raw bone
begins to rub against raw bone. Once enough damage has occurred,
the knee becomes painful and causes discomfort, limping, instability,
giving way, and swelling, resulting in a decrease in the motion
and function of the knee joint.
Total
Knee Replacement is
a surgical procedure which involves the replacement of the worn-out
parts of the knee with an artificial joint. A total knee replacement
implies that everything about the joint is being replaced -
which isn't true. What is actually being done is just a resurfacing
of the bones of the joint. The prosthesis that is used is made
up of plastic and metal and is placed on the joint surface of
each bone. Most of the ligaments and all of the tendons remain
intact. This allows the bones to glide against each other and
allow the knee to bend and move without pain.
The
knee is a complicated joint which is made up of muscle, tendons,
ligaments, and bones. These components permit it to move in
a number of directions enabling us to sit, stand, walk, climb
stairs, and change direction (pivot). There are three bones:
the femur (thigh bone), the tibia (shin bone), and the patella
(knee cap). The surface of the ends of these bones is covered
in cartilage. A cartilage pad, called the meniscus, sits between
the femur and the tibia. The entire joint is bathed in a slippery
fluid - synovial fluid - which lubricates the joint and also
supplies the cartilage with nutrients. The knee can be damaged
by trauma (for example, falls, sports injuries, car accidents)
or through disease such as with arthritis. Following trauma
or disease, the articular cartilage wears away and raw bone
begins to rub against raw bone. Once enough damage has occurred,
the knee becomes painful and causes discomfort, limping, instability,
giving way, and swelling, resulting in a decrease in the motion
and function of the knee joint. 
Total
Knee Replacement is
a surgical procedure which involves the replacement of the worn-out
parts of the knee with an artificial joint. A total knee replacement
implies that everything about the joint is being replaced -
which isn't true. What is actually being done is just a resurfacing
of the bones of the joint. The prosthesis that is used is made
up of plastic and metal and is placed on the joint surface of
each bone. Most of the ligaments and all of the tendons remain
intact. This allows the bones to glide against each other and
allow the knee to bend and move without pain.
