A surgical procedure to replace the knee joint with a specially designed prosthetic joint. The surface of the knee joint may be worn away by osteoarthritis, fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout, making walking and normal daily activities difficult and painful. The first line of medical treatment for such symptoms includes recommendations for weight loss, anti-inflammatory medication, the use of support braces or orthotics (special shoe inserts), physical therapy, or injections with corticosteroids or one of the newer supplements. If full function without pain cannot be restored, if daily life is restricted, if pain is progressive and there is a constant need for pain medication, total joint replacement is usually considered.
A surgical operation to replace a diseased usually osteoarthritic knee with an artificial (metal or plastic) implant which covers the worn cartilage. As much of the original joint as possible is retained. The operations, like hip replacements, are usually done on older people (some restriction of movement may result) and about 90 per cent are successful.
A procedure where a damaged knee joint is replaced with an artificial one, typically made from metal or plastic. This knee replacement surgery is often performed on older individuals suffering from severe osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.