The knee joint is made up of the end of the thigh and shin bone. The cartilage that covers the knee joint allows these bones usually glide over each other smoothly. However, if damage occurs to the cartilage due to arthritis or injury it can cause pain and effect mobility. Knee replacement (knee arthroplasty) surgery will replace the knee with an artificial joint, which can be made from metal and/or plastic. The knee replacement usually lasts between 15-20 years. There are two types of surgery, total knee replacement and partial knee replacement.
Many Knee Replacement surgeries are performed worldwide each year. However, it is a major operation and it can take a long period of time for the patient to fully recover. The surgery will take around 2 hours. The surgeon will remove the damaged surfaces from the thigh and shin bone and then shape the surfaces before fitting the artificial knee joint. The surgery should help to reduce pain and increase mobility.