Knee Replacements

Knee Replacement surgery is often performed on an inpatient basis.  However, many patients may be candidates to have these procedures performed on an outpatient basis as part of Olympia Orthopaedic Associates innovative Outpatient Total Joint Replacement Program.

During the procedure, the surgeon carefully removes osteoarthritic bone and damaged cartilage in the knee joint and replaces it with special components.  These components include metal caps that are placed where the osteoarthritic bone has been removed from the femur and tibia (the bones that make up the knee joint).

A medical grade polyethylene plastic spacer is placed between the bones of the knee and together with the metal cap and spacer recreate the normal function of a healthy knee joint.  This also ensures that the caps are able to glide smoothly over the spacer and allow the knee to be stable and flexible.

In the final stage of these procedures, advanced imaging and flexibility tests are used to ensure proper placement of the implants.

• Partial Knee Replacement: In some cases, only one side or compartment of the knee is damaged due to osteoarthritis.  In this case, only the damaged portions of the bone are removed and the healthy bone is left intact.
• Total Knee Replacement: In other cases, both compartments of the knee are damaged due to osteoarthritis and therefore a Total Knee Replacement is performed.

Both procedures take about two hours from start to finish. Patients are then brought to a recovery room where they can recover in comfort.  Nurses and medical staff will review post-operative instructions as well begin scheduling the start of your Physical Therapy program.

Knee Replacements are one of the most popular orthopaedic surgical procedures with over 600,000 performed each year.  After these procedures, it is important that you commit yourself to the Physical Therapy program prescribed by the Olympia Orthopaedic Associates Physical Therapy Team so that you can recover quickly and get the most out of this procedure.

After therapy is completed, you can look forward to an active and pain-free lifestyle.  You can return to the hobbies you once enjoyed like golf, hiking and fitness routines – without the pain of osteoarthritis.

The Knee Replacement Specialists at Olympia Orthopaedic Associates have provided countless patients with a knee pain solution using Partial or Total Knee Replacement surgery.