About Knee Replacement Surgery Baltimore

The knee replacement surgery Baltimore is a marvel of modern orthopedic medicine that has allowed many individuals to remain active into their very late senior years.  It has been available since the beginning of the 1970's, and is becoming more advanced with each passing year.

Knee Replacement Surgery:  What to Expect

Not everyone who has knee pain will be a candidate for knee replacement surgery Baltimore MD.  There are many less invasive treatments like cortisone-type injections and physical therapy that are very effective for a large number of individuals.  Those who are eventually referred for surgery can expect their procedure to go something like this:

• The surgeon will make an incision that exposes the patella, more commonly known as the knee cap.  The size of the incisions will depend upon whether it is a traditional surgery or a minimally invasive surgery.
• The patella is then rotated to expose the rest of the knee joint structures.
• Careful measurements are taken so that the surgeon will be able to build an artificial knee joint that will fit exactly in the patient's body.  Once the measurements are finished, the upper part of the joint is removed and the femur is resurfaced in order to accept implantation of the medical hardware.
• The upper component of the artificial knee joint is attached to the femur using medical cement.
• Next, the lower part of the damaged joint is removed and the tibia, one of the lower leg bones, is resurfaced to accept the transplant hardware.  The lower part of the artificial knee joint is then cemented to the tibia.
• A plastic component is attached to the patella.  This piece will allow the natural bone structure to integrate with the artificial structures.  The surgeon will check the new joint to make sure it is functioning properly before putting the patella back in place.
• Before the surgeon closes the incision, they will check the joint again to make sure it bends and functions properly.  When those things are done, the patient is sent to the recovery room to wake up from the anesthetic.