Total Knee Replacement: Understanding the Procedure & Recovery

Total knee replacement may be recommended if you have knee damage from arthritis or injury which seriously limits your activity, or causes pain that is not effectively manageable. A knee replacement can help you become more active again.

Success Rate

• Over 90 percent of patients undergoing total knee replacement experience a significant reduction of pain and improvement in ability to participate in daily living activity, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

Time Frame

• Total knee replacement surgery takes about 2 hours, and you'll probably stay in the hospital for several days. Physical therapy, including walking and exercising, begins very soon after surgery.

Surgery

• During knee replacement surgery, the surgeon extracts damaged cartilage and bone from the joint surface and replaces them with a metal and plastic surface.

Prohibitied Activities

• After knee replacement, you'll be able to become more active again, but certain activities are prohibited. These include jogging, running, jumping and high-impact sports. Knee replacements can last for many years if you avoid these activities.

Possible Complications

• Total knee replacement surgery leaves scars and can cause blood clots in the leg. Fewer than 2 percent of patients develop a knee joint infection, according to the AAOS, and major complications such as a stroke are possible, though extremely rare.