Understanding
Your Knee Replacement Surgery
The
knee joint is formed by the connection of
three bones: the femur (the thigh bone), the
tibia (the shin bone), and the patella (the
kneecap). Strong ligaments connect these bones
to each other. The muscles of the thigh and
calf attach to the bones around the knee by
means of tendons. When the knee is healthy,
the joint moves freely. This is because the
joint is covered with slippery tissue called
cartilage. Healthy cartilage absorbs stress
and allows the knee to glide easily.
When
one or more parts of the knee are damaged
by injury or arthritis, joint movement suffers.
Over time, cartilage starts to crack or wear
away. Because cartilage cannot fully repair
itself, the damage increases. The bones become
exposed and rub together. At first, your knee
may be a little stiff. But as time progresses
the grinding bones become painful and limit
your ability to walk.
A Total Knee Replacement is the resurfacing
of the ends of the femur, tibia and the patella.
The end of the femur (thigh bone) is resurfaced
with a metal implant.
The
top of the tibia is resurfaced with a metal
plate and the under surface of the patella
is resurfaced with plastic. These implants
can be attached to the bones with either cement
or have a porous surface that allows bone
to grow and bond to the metal.
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