Total Knee Replacement

To Retain or Sacrifice the PCL…That is the Question

Ralph — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 05:15:04 +0000

In the normal knee, the ligaments provide stability during movement of the joint. There are four major ligaments in the knee: the medial and lateral collateral ligaments (MCL and LCL), which provide “side to side” stability and the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL and PCL) which provide “front to back” stability.

In total knee replacement surgery, the ACL is routinely removed, the MCL and LCL are preserved, but the PCL is either retained or sacrificed. This brings up the obvious question-is it better to retain or sacrifice the PCL in total knee replacement?

View the rest of this total knee replacement story here.

The Impact of “High-Risk” Sports in Knee Replacement Surgery Patients

Ralph — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:43:04 +0000

At the recent meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a study was presented where survivorship of total knee replacements in patients who participated in certain “high-risk” sports was compared to those who did not participate in such activities.

In this knee replacement study, a group of 1500 patients that received the identical prosthesis were asked if they participated in certain high-risk activities. These are activities which place excessive load on the implant such as basketball, soccer or football. Within this group, 218 were identified as having participated in such “high-risk” sports. These patients were then “matched” against a control group so other factors such as BMI, age and sex could be eliminated….

Please read the rest of this story on knee replacement surgery here.

Press-Fit Knee Replacement Surgery: Working to Prevent Loosening and Bone Loss

Ralph — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:12:03 +0000

In total knee replacement, the worn ends of the bones that make up the joint are replaced with metal and plastic implants. These implants are secured to the bone either with “bone cement” which the surgeon applies to the implant and bony surfaces or they are simply “press-fit” into place. In the press-fit scenario, the surface of the implant which contacts the bone is typically coated with a porous structure. This structure is designed to mimic the porous or sponge-like structure of the prepared bone in order to promote bony in-growth into the implant coating….

View the rest of this story on total knee replacement surgery here.

Your Ligaments and Total Knee Replacement

Ralph — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:58:25 +0000

A common question regarding total knee replacement (also known as total knee arthroplasty) is what happens to the ligaments in the knee as a result of knee replacement?

First, it is helpful to understand the location and function of these important soft-tissue structures. There are four major ligaments in the knee joint. Two of these ligaments act as “side-to-side” stabilizers in the knee: the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL). These ligaments connect the femur (thigh-bone) to the tibia (shin-bone). They are located on the inside (medial) and outside (lateral) parts of the knee.

The other two ligaments, the anterior cruciate ligament and the posterior cruciate ligament (ACL and PCL) limit “front-to-back” or anterior-to-posterior movement of the knee. These ligaments are named based on their attachment site on the tibia and are found roughly in the middle of the joint. The PCL runs from the back or posterior part of the tibia to the front of the femur. The ACL runs in the opposite way. These ligament cross, hence the name “cruciate”….

Please view the rest of this story on your ligaments and knee replacement surgery

Knee Replacement Scar Tissue Manipulation Procedure

Ralph — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:07:23 +0000

Knee replacement surgery is generally very safe and effective, but it is a major operation. For unknown reasons, scar tissue formation within the knee joint may be excessive in some patients (a condition known as athrofibrosis). This can result in joint pain and stiffness and reduced range of motion (ROM).

This stiffness is sometimes addressed by a forcible, closed manipulation of the knee joint by an orthopedic surgeon. In a recent study in the journal Orthopedics, the authors looked at the effectiveness of manipulation and sought to determine if any patient factors could be used to predict range of motion improvements following this procedure.

In this study the authors describe how manipulation following knee replacement is performed. Patients are given either epidural or general anesthesia. An assistant holds the heel while the surgeon gently extends or straightens the leg….

View the rest of this story on Knee Replacement Scar Tissue Manipulation here.

Weight Gain After Knee Replacement?

Ralph — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 06:01:23 +0000

A recent study out of the University at Delaware found that patients actually gained weight following knee replacement surgery. Conventional wisdom was that after suffering years of debilitating pain, formerly sedentary arthritis sufferers would resume activity and exercise following their knee replacement. ..

View the rest of this story on weight gain after knee replacement here.

Patellar Clunk Syndrome: Complication Following Knee Replacement Surgery

Ralph — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:31:43 +0000

In general, Total knee replacement (TKR) is a highly successful procedure. However, complications, although relatively rare, can sometimes occur. One such complication is known as Patellar Clunk Syndrome.

To understand this condition, it helps to first understand a little bit about knee anatomy and function…

Please click here to read the rest of this article on this complication of total knee arthroplasty.

Joint Stiffness: Complications Following Knee Replacement Surgery

Ralph — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:36:26 +0000

In a relatively recent article 1 published in the Musculoskeletal Journal of Hospital for Special Surgery, Dr. Alejandro Gonzalez Della Valle et al reviewed the origins of and treatments for early onset stiffness, a common complication following knee replacement surgery. We’ll present a brief summary of the article here.

How Prevalent is Stiffness after Knee Replacement?

In a review of the literature, the authors state that stiffness occurs in roughly 6% of cases, making it the most common knee replacement surgery complication…

Please follow this link to view the rest of this story on total knee replacement surgery complications…

MIS Knee Replacement May be Linked to Early Failure?

Ralph — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:59:04 +0000

In “Minimal Incision” or ” Minimally Invasive” surgery, exposure of the surgical site is limited. Often the landmarks used in standard total knee replacement surgery may be obscured. The surgeon must rely on experience and sophisticated instruments to properly align the components. Although MIS knee replacement has grown in popularity in recent years, the possibility of issues arising due to the limited exposure has remained a primary concern….

Please follow this link to read the rest of this story on minimally invasive knee surgery…

Knee Replacement Allergies – Nothing to Sneeze At?

Ralph — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:13:00 +0000

Each year, hundreds of thousands of knee replacements are performed. In knee replacement, the worn ends of the bones that make up the knee joint are replaced with metal and plastic implants. In most cases, results are excellent, however in rare cases, an immune response may arise and can become problematic. That is, the patient may suffer from an allergy or hypersensitivity to the metallic components of the implant. Symptoms may include warmth or swelling at the knee, a skin rash and even loosening of the implant…..

Please follow this link to learn more about knee replacement allergies…