When might I need knee replacement surgery?
You may need to replace your knee joint, a surgical procedure called knee arthroplasty when arthritis or an injury causes severe joint damage. Most patients get a knee replacement when advanced arthritis causes severe knee pain and limits their ability to move.
What type of knee replacement will I receive?
Dr. Moore performs two basic types of knee joint replacements:
Partial or unicompartmental knee replacement
The physical structure of your knee joint creates three separate compartments located in front of the knee, and on the inside and outside of the joint.
If your arthritis has only damaged one compartment, Dr. Moore performs a partial joint replacement by resurfacing and inserting a joint prosthesis in the damaged area and leaving the remaining joint untouched.
Total knee replacement
When arthritis damages multiple compartments, Dr. Moore performs a total knee arthroplasty, replacing the entire joint with a minimally invasive total knee replacement.
What happens during my knee replacement surgery?
The basics of knee replacement include removing the damaged tissues, resurfacing the remaining bone, and then implanting a prosthetic joint.
Your knee prosthesis consists of metal pieces that recreate the joint’s surface and cover the ends of your femur and thigh bone. Dr. Moore replaces the cartilage with a plastic prosthesis.
What specialized technology does Dr. Moore use?
When replacing your knee joint, Dr. Moore specializes in using several techniques and cutting-edge technologies that produce exceptional results, including:
Mako® Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery
Dr. Moore meticulously plans your surgery using a CT scan to produce a 3D image of your knee. He then uploads the image to the Mako device, which lets him determine how much bone to remove and the precise size and placement of your prosthesis.
When Dr. Moore begins your surgery, he uses a pencil-like tool to touch certain areas of the bones in your joint, sending the information to the Mako system. After the Mako compares your real bone structure to the 3D model, Dr. Moore can adjust the surgical plan if needed.
Dr. Moore performs robotic-assisted surgery by controlling the Mako’s robotic arm, using it to remove the damaged tissues. A monitor shows Dr. Moore’s progress in real-time while the robotic arm uses sensations that tell the doctor when he’s near healthy tissue.
Robotic assistance allows Dr. Moore to preserve the maximum amount of healthy bone and soft tissues, enhancing your natural knee function after your surgery.
Minimally invasive total knee replacement
Dr. Moore performs minimally invasive knee surgery by making small incisions and using specialized instruments.
Minimally invasive surgery causes less trauma and spares your muscles, including your quadriceps, by stretching the fibers just enough to accommodate the narrow instruments.
Since Dr. Moore moves the muscles rather than cutting them, he returns them to their normal position after implanting your prosthesis.
When you have a minimally invasive total knee replacement, or a partial knee replacement using the same technique, you experience:
- Less bleeding during surgery
- Less pain after surgery
- Lower risk of complications
- Less need for narcotics
- Faster return to the full range of motion
- Quicker return to work and normal activities
If you struggle with knee pain and you’d like to learn more about knee replacement, call our office at (602) 456-1835 today.