Also called: Knee Arthroplasty; Minimally Invasive Knee Surgery; Total Knee Arthroplasty; Total Knee Replacement
Knee replacement surgery generally consists of resurfacing or removing the injured part of the knee joint. The resurfaced area is then covered with metal and plastic parts along the ends of the bones that form the knee joint. There are different degrees of knee replacement, ranging from total knee replacement to partial knee replacement. Your surgeon can advise you on the appropriate type of surgery for your situation.
For those experiencing knee pain, interference with daily life is a key factor when considering knee replacement. The time to consider knee replacement is when knee pain affects your quality of life and interferes with your ability to do daily activities, such as cleaning or walking.
There have been many advancements in knee surgery in the last several decades, including an average one-day hospital stay at UAMS. Many knee replacement patients are even able to be up walking the same day of surgery.
