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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Answers About Total Knee Replacement

By Dr. Stefan Tarlow

You may want to consider total knee replacement if you have tried everything else to no avail. If cortisone injections, bracing devices, assistive devices and modification of your level of activity have not worked to reduce your knee pain, total knee replacement surgery may be just what the doctor ordered to help you become an active participant in your life once more.

If you are having problems with knee pain while performing ADL (activities of daily living) from resting and relaxing to climbing stairs, you will surely want to consider taking some positive action to resolve your difficulty.

Total knee replacement surgery is one of the most popular surgeries in the world for good reason. This technique has been around since 1968. It was a boon for orthopedic surgery when it first came into use, and it has only improved in every way since that time. With modern techniques and top-of-the-line materials, over 581,000 patients a year are able to find relief from knee pain in the U.S.

Have you spoken with your orthopedic surgeon about knee replacement yet, or are you just starting to think about it? Either way, you are sure to find useful information in this article.

Click here for more on total knee replacement .

What Are Knees Made Of?

The shin bone, the knee cap, and the thigh bone are the main components of the knee. In medical terminology, these are called the tibia, the patella, and the femur. Your knee is in almost constant use, and it is the largest joint in your body. For these reasons, you are highly likely to injure your knee or experience some wear and tear at some point in your life.

Holding the knee together are the medial and lateral collateral ligaments and the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments. These strong bands of tissue connect the femur and the tibia and stabilize the knee.

The thigh muscles are also an important part of the composition of the knee. The strength of the thigh muscle determines the strength and stability of the knee.

Articular cartilage is a substance that pads the knee and keeps the bones from grinding against each other. This smooth material forms a cushion that allows the parts of the knee to move freely. Additionally, fibrous semicircular rings of cartilage tissue called the medial and lateral menisci absorb shock and stabilize the knee.

Over all of this structure lies the synovial membrane. This is a smooth, thin tissue that lines the interior surfaces of healthy knees. It produces a lubricant that keeps everything running smoothly and painlessly in healthy knees.

The parts of the knee should work together to provide decades of trouble free service. Unfortunately, the knees are delicately balanced. If anything happens to throw that balance off - an injury or illness for example - the result can be loss of function, muscle weakness, and pain.

Generally speaking, knee replacement surgery is done in patients ranging in age from sixty to eighty. However, this is not set in stone. Your orthopedic surgeon will look at your disability and your level of pain to determine whether or not you would be a good candidate for total knee replacement surgery. This surgery has been successful in people of all ages - ranging from very young teens with juvenile arthritis, to the very elderly with degenerative arthritis. - 17269

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