Knee Replacement; Helps Relieve Pain and Restore Function in Diseased Knee Joints

Knee replacement, or knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure to replace the weight-bearing portions of the joint to alleviate pain and disability. It is most commonly done for osteoarthritis (osteoarthritic knees), and for other knee ailments including rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation of the joints) and psoriatic arthritis (inflammatory arthritis of the tissues). Knee replacement surgery can help people suffering from osteoarthritic recover their independence by replacing the damaged cartilage in the knee. General pain may occur for up to several weeks following a total knee replacement. Swelling may last for two to three weeks after surgery, but may persist for as long as three to six months.

However, it may take up to three months for pain and swelling to settle down. It can take up to a year for any leg swelling to disappear. During knee replacement, a doctor cuts a cartilage or damaged bone from the patient’s kneecap, shinbone, and thighbone, and replaces it with a prosthesis made of polymers, high-grade plastics, and metal alloys. The surgery helps relieve pain and restore function in severely diseased knee joints. Plastic and metal parts are used to cap the ends of the knee joint as well as the bones that make up the knee joint. Knee replacement aims to replace the damaged parts of the knee joint and relieve pain that cannot be controlled.

With the increasing prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and osteoarthritis, as well as with the growing geriatric population, demand for knee replacement is also increasing with a rapid pace. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four (around 54.4 million) people in the U.S. have some form of arthritis, and the number is expected to reach 78 million by 2040. Various types of arthritis may affect the knee joint. It is a leading cause of disability, and causes pain, aching, stiffness, and swelling of the joints. Moreover, arthritis is more common among adults aged 65 years or older. Thus, there is an increasing demand for knee replacement in the U.S.