Total
Knee Replacement Surgery
 The
Minimally Invasive Twin Insertion Flex
Fixed
Knee
For
millions of people who suffer from osteoarthritis,
pain has become a part of every day life.
In some cases, total knee replacement may
be the best option for relief. But many individuals
may not take that step, fearing further limitations
in their daily activities. A new total knee
replacement implant can help put those concerns
to rest.
The
NexGen® Complete Knee Solution LPS-Flex
Fixed Bearing Knee offers a new option for
those osteoarthritis patients who want to
continue their active lifestyle after total
knee replacement. For patients with the ability
and desire, the Flex Fixed Knee is designed
to accommodate resumption of deep knee bending
activities. Early diagnosis, good preoperative
flexibility and appropriate rehabilitation
(physical therapy) can help a patient's chance
for success.
A Higher Degree of Bending for Total Knee
Replacement Recipients
The Surgery is Minimally Invasive Ensuring
a Faster Recovery
A Leading Edge Treatment for Joint Replacements
Patients
Patients can resume an Active Lifestyle after
Total Knee Replacement
The Flex Fixed Knee replacement is the first
knee specifically designed to safely accommodate
flexibility of up to 155 degrees. Many activities
of daily living require good range of motion,
such as climbing stairs (75-140 degrees) and
sitting in a chair (90-130 degrees). Hobbies
such as gardening and golfing or activities
such as kneeling for prayer and sitting cross-legged
can demand an even greater degree of bending.
Generally, knee replacements have been designed
to accommodate flexibility up to 125 degrees.
What
is the benefit of the Flex Fixed Knee?
The Flex Fixed Knee is specifically designed
to safely accommodate up to 155 degrees of
flexion in patients who had this ability before
surgery. This means that with appropriate
rehabilitation a patient can resume an active
lifestyle after total knee replacement –
deeply bending the knee for recreational,
religious and other day-to-day activities.
Patients today want to continue their previous
lifestyles – even after total knee replacement.
The Flex Fixed Knee may be an option for many
patients to help them achieve this goal.
High
Flex Knee Replacement - Surgical Procedure
The knee is the hinge joint consisting of
three bones. The upper part of the hinge is
at the end of the upper leg bone (femur),
and the lower part of the hinge is at the
top of the lower leg bone (tibia). When the
knee is bent, the end of the femur rolls and
slides on top of the tibia. A third bone,
the kneecap (patella), glides over the front
and end of the femur.
In a healthy knee joint, the surfaces of these
bones are very smooth and covered with a tough
protective tissue called cartilage. Osteoarthritis
causes damage to the bone surfaces and cartilage
where the three bones meet and rub together.
These damaged surfaces can eventually become
painful.
There
are several ways to treat the pain caused
by osteoarthritis. One way is a total knee
replacement surgery. The decision to have
total knee replacement surgery should be made
very carefully after consulting your doctor
and learning as much as you can about the
knee joint, osteoarthritis, and the surgery.
In
some cases, the Flex Fixed Knee may be an
option for total knee replacement. The basic
surgical procedure for the Flex Fixed Knee
is the same as for any other total knee replacement.
In
total knee replacement surgery, the bone surfaces
and cartilage that have been damaged by osteoarthritis
are removed and replaced with artificial surfaces
made of metal and a plastic material. We call
these artificial surfaces "implants,"
or "prostheses."
Getting
to the Joint
The
patient is first taken into the operating
room and given anesthesia. After the anesthesia
has taken effect, the skin around the knee
is thoroughly scrubbed with an antiseptic
liquid. The knee is flexed about 90 degrees
and the lower portion of the leg, including
the foot, is placed in a special device to
securely hold it in place during the surgery.
Usually a tourniquet is then applied to the
upper portion of the leg to help slow the
flow of blood during the surgery.
An
incision is then made that typically extends
from just above the knee to just below the
knee. The incision is gradually made deeper
through muscle and other tissue until the
bone surfaces are exposed.
Removing
the Damaged Bone Surfaces
The
damaged bone surfaces and cartilage are then
removed by the surgeon. Precision instruments
and guides are used to help make sure the
cuts are made at the correct angles so the
bones will align properly after the new surfaces
(implants) are attached.
Small
amounts of the bone surface are removed from
the front, end and back of the femur. This
shapes the bone so the implants will fit properly.
The amount of bone that is removed depends
on the amount of bone that has been damaged
by the osteoarthritis.
A
small portion of the top surface of the tibia
is also removed, making the end of the bone
flat.
The
back surface of the patella (kneecap) is also
removed.
Attaching
the Implants
An
implant is attached to each of the three bones.
These implants are designed so that the knee
joint will move in a way that is very similar
to the way the joint moved when it was healthy.
The implants are attached using a special
kind of cement for bones.
The
implant that fits over the end of the femur
is made of metal. Its surface is rounded and
very smooth, covering the front and back of
the bone as well as the end.
The
implant that fits over the top of the tibia
usually consists of two parts. A metal baseplate
fits over the part of the bone that was cut
flat. A durable plastic insert is then attached
to the baseplate to serve as an articulating
surface between the baseplate and the metal
implant that covers the end of the femur.
The
implant that covers the back of the patella
is also made of a durable plastic.
Artificial
knee implants come in many designs. The surgeon
will choose the implant design that best meets
the patient's needs.
Knee
Implants After Attachment
Closing
the Wound
If necessary, the surgeon may adjust the ligaments
that surround the knee to achieve the best
possible knee function.
When
all of the implants are in place and the ligaments
are properly adjusted, the surgeon sews the
layers of tissue back into their proper position.
A plastic tube may be inserted into the wound
to allow liquids to drain from the site during
the first few hours after surgery. The edges
of the skin are then sewn together, and the
knee is wrapped in a sterile bandage. The
patient is then taken to the recovery room.
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