Knee replacement

Knees are the largest, most complex joints in our bodies and, as the saying goes, are often the “first to go.” This is true because your knees are involved in almost every movement you make. So, when a knee (or knees) starts to hurt, it impacts every aspect of your life. That’s where expert orthopedic care can help. The specialized teams at our hospitals will use the latest therapies, tools and technology to treat your knee pain.

You can often treat mild or occasional knee pain at home. Your orthopedic doctor may suggest rest, heat, ice and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications. However, if you're experiencing the following symptoms, you should call your doctor:

• Knee pain when standing, walking or lying down
• Intense pain, burning or grinding in your knee
• Inability to put weight on your leg or legs
• Pain, reduced range of motion, soreness or swelling in your knee after rest/inactivity
• Pain, reduced range of motion, soreness or swelling in your knee following (or the day after) a long walk
• Inability to stand or walk for more than a few minutes
• Sudden swelling of the knee
• Signs of infection, such as fever, chills or redness, accompanied by knee pain

Take the Free Knee Pain Assessment

If your doctor has suggested knee surgery to help with your knee pain, you may have options. Medical City Healthcare orthopedic surgeons will always recommend the least invasive option. The following procedures may be available, depending on your situation:

• Knee arthroscopy (fix tears in the soft tissues and cartilage around your knee)
• Knee joint resurfacing (reshape or replace the damaged surfaces of your kneecap and ball)
• Knee joint revision (remove and replace a damaged artificial implant from a previous surgery)
• Knee osteotomy (correct arthritis damage in one knee by adding a wedge of bone near the damaged joint)
• Synovectomy (remove the damaged lining of the joint to relieve pain from cartilage damage)
• Total knee replacement (fully replace the damaged joint with an implant)

As a knee replacement patient, you may be eligible for robot-assisted surgery. Orthopedic surgeons at Medical City Las Colinas, for example, use a surgical system that provides real-time guidance and alignment data using a visual 3D map. With that data, surgeons can:

• Easily make adjustments during surgery
• Use minimally invasive techniques
• Precisely align the implant to your knee

Other advanced technologies, such as computerized navigation tools and bone- and tissue-sparing robotic systems, are available at Medical City Dallas and Medical City McKinney. Your knee specialists will explain your treatment options, including robot-assisted procedures.