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Knee

• The healthy knee is a complex hinge joint consisting of bones and healthy cartilage. The three bones that form the knee are the thighbone (femur), shinbone (tibia), and kneecap (patella). The femur and tibia are held together by ligaments, which are strong bands of tissue that stabilize the joint....

• The knee is the largest joint in your body and it is susceptible to injury. Because the knee is a complex joint, made up of many parts, there are numerous things that can go wrong. Knee pain and damage is commonly caused by arthritis or injuries to the joint....

• Your surgeon will evaluate your health history, perform a physical examination, and take x-rays to diagnose your knee pain....

• The treatment options covered here relate to osteoarthritis, although many of them may be helpful for patients with other knee conditions. Please ask your physician before starting any treatment....

• When non-surgical treatments fail to provide adequate relief from the symptoms of arthritis, your orthopedic surgeon may recommend joint replacement. The technique of joint replacement uses implants typically made from polyethylene (plastic) and metal alloy to replace the damaged sections of bone and cartilage in the joint....

• In patients with only limited knee arthritis, surgeons may elect to perform a unicompartmental (partial) knee replacement. Unlike total knee replacement involving removal of all the knee joint surfaces, a partial knee replacement replaces only one side of the knee joint, preserving the undamaged cartilage....

• Total knee replacement surgery, also called arthroplasty, is an option for many suffering with pain from dysplasia or osteoarthritis, a disease that involves the breakdown of cartilage in one or more joints. This causes bones in the affected area to grind against each other, causing severe pain and limited joint mobility.

• The field of orthopedics is constantly researching new techniques to help make joint replacement surgery less painful and to help patients recover more quickly. One of the most talked about orthopedic advancements is minimally invasive joint replacement, also called mini-incision joint replacement....

• Planning ahead and preparing for your knee surgery can help ensure a smooth surgery and an easier recovery. The following recommendations can help you with this process....

• During your first few weeks at home, it is important that you move properly. You should avoid crossing your legs while sitting or standing, and do not allow your knees to come higher than your hips. Also, avoid sitting in low sofas or chairs....

• You may be prescribed a number of physical therapy exercises. Physical therapy is simply an exercise program that gently stretches and strengthens specific muscles and joints. The exercises you may perform are gentle, range of motion (stretching) exercises designed to restore movement and strength to your joint and to promote blood flow for healing....

• Answers to their most asked questions.

• Additional links provided to trusted specialist in the field.

All Ortho Patient Ed content is reviewed by our Advisory Board of leading orthopedic surgeons.

• Arthritis
  • About Arthritis
  • Common Arthritis Conditions
  • Diagnosing Arthritis
  • Links to Additional Education
• Hip
  • Hip Anatomy
  • Causes of Hip Pain
  • Diagnosis of Hip Pain
  • Non-Surgical Hip Treatment
  • Surgical Hip Treatment
  • Hip Resurfacing
  • Total Hip Replacement
  • Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement
  • ASI Hip Replacement
  • Pre-op and Post-op Guidelines
  • Caregivers Guide for Hip
  • Physical Therapy for the Hip
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Links to Additional Education
• Knee
  • Knee Anatomy
  • Causes of Knee Pain
  • Diagnosis of Knee Pain
  • Non-Surgical Knee Treatment
  • Surgical Knee Treatment
  • Partial Knee Replacement
  • Total Knee Replacement
  • Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement
  • Pre-op and Post-op Guidelines
  • Caregivers Guide for Knee
  • Physical Therapy for the Knee
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Links to Additional Education
• Shoulder
  • Shoulder Anatomy
  • Causes of Shoulder Pain
  • Diagnosis of Shoulder Pain
  • Non-Surgical Shoulder Treatment
  • Surgical Shoulder Treatment
  • Total Shoulder Replacement
  • Pre-op and Post-op Guidelines
  • Caregivers Guide for the Shoulder
  • Physical Therapy for the Shoulder
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Links to Additional Education
• Elbow
  • Elbow Anatomy
  • Causes of Elbow Pain
  • Diagnosis of Elbow Pain
  • Non-Surgical Elbow Treatment
  • Surgical Elbow Treatment
  • Total Elbow Replacement
  • Pre-op and Post-op Guidelines
  • Caregivers Guide for the Elbow
  • Physical Therapy for the Elbow
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Links to Additional Education
• Spine
  • Spine Anatomy
  • Causes of Back Pain
  • Diagnosis of Back Pain
  • Non-Surgical Spine Treatment
  • Surgical Spine Treatment
  • Pre-op and Post-op Guidelines
  • Physical Therapy for the Spine
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Links to Additional Education
• Foot/Ankle
• Wrist
  • Wrist Anatomy
  • Causes of Wrist Pain
  • Diagnosis of Wrist Pain
  • Non-Surgical Wrist Treatment
  • Surgical Wrist Treatment
  • Wrist Replacement
  • Pre-op and Post-op Guidelines
  • Caregivers Guide for the Wrist
  • Physical Therapy for the Wrist
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Links to Additional Education
• Sports Medicine Knee
  • ACL Tear
  • Knee Anatomy
  • Common Types of Injuries
  • PCL Tear
  • MCL and LCL Tears
  • Meniscus Tear
  • Knee Cartilage Damage
  • Non-Surgical Treatment and Recovery
  • Arthroscopic Knee Surgery
  • ACL Reconstruction Surgery
  • Links to Additional Education
• Sports Medicine Shoulder
  • Shoulder Sports Anatomy
  • Common Types of Injuries
  • Rotator Cuff Tear
  • Labral Tear
  • Bicep Tendon Rupture
  • Non-Surgical Treament Recovery
  • Shoulder Resurfacing
  • Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery
  • Links to Additional Education