Knee replacement surgery—also known as knee arthroplasty (ARTH-row-plas-tee)—is an extremely common procedure to help relieve pain and restore mobility and function in severely diseased knee joints. The joint replacement team at Hendricks Regional Health performs many knee replacements every year. Knee replacement is often a good option for individuals whose everyday life is being affected by:

• Severe knee pain
• Reduced mobility
• Knees that give out while walking
• Constantly swollen or deformed knees

During the knee replacement procedure, a surgeon makes a 6- to-10-inch incision in the front of the knee. The surgeon will then move aside the kneecap and remove damaged bone and cartilage on the thighbone, shinbone and sometimes the kneecap itself. The newly prepared surfaces of the bones are then able to hold the artificial joint. With today's constantly evolving technology, patients and their doctors are able choose from a wide variety of joint designs that take into account each individual's age, weight, activity level and overall health.

If there is a need for hospitalization, your doctor will discuss these options with you. Almost all knee replacement patients experience a substantial reduction of knee pain and a significant improvement in the ability to perform all common daily activities. However, since an artificial knee will wear in the same way a real knee joint will, our joint replacement team strongly recommends against high-impact activities such as running, jogging, jumping, or other high-impact sports after surgery.

As always, the joint replacement team at Hendricks Regional Health is always available to answer questions or help you throughout your recovery period.

If you would like more information on knee replacement surgery, request an appointment or call us at (317) 718-4676.