If your knee has been damaged by arthritis, a fracture, or other conditions, you may be experiencing difficulty when performing your daily activities. Activities such as cleaning your house, taking your dog for a walk, climbing stairs, or getting in or out of your chair may be painful and difficult. You may even feel uncomfortable while resting and have difficulty sleeping.

Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) is the ‘wear and tear’ type of arthritis and is the most common reason for having a total knee replacement. Rheumatoid arthritis and post-traumatic injuries that cause tears in the cartilage in the knee joint also lead patients to consider knee replacement.

The knee is the largest joint in the body and having healthy knees is required to perform most everyday activities. If medications, changes in your everyday activities, and the use of walking aids do not adequately help your symptoms, you may want to consider knee replacement surgery. Knee replacement surgery is a safe and effective procedure that can relieve your pain, increase motion, and help you get back to enjoying normal, everyday activities.

San Antonio Regional Hospital’s Joint Replacement Center offers the latest surgical techniques to benefit those who suffer from chronic joint pain. Our surgeons are skilled in tissue sparing surgical techniques which protect muscle and ligament tissue as well as traditional procedures.

Total knee replacement is a surgical procedure to resurface a knee damaged by arthritis. Metal and plastic parts are used to cap the ends of the bones that form the knee joint, along with the kneecap (patella).

If only one compartment of the knee is damaged, then partial knee replacement could be a viable surgical option. With the right indications, partial knee replacement is an alternative to total knee replacement.