Knee Replacement
Round Rock Orthopaedics & Rehab is a leader in total knee replacement surgery. We service patients in Williamson and surrounding Counties, Central Texas, and the Greater Austin area. Our orthopaedic surgeons have advanced training and utilize the latest advancements in technology to diagnosis, and perform the correct treatment plan to maximize the recovery of each patient.
The Knee Joint:
Your knees are involved in just about everything you do, from standing to walking,
stopping, stretching, and running. The human knee is a wonderfully constructed, versatile joint, formed by a hinge-type mechanism that lets you move both forward and backward (and even a bit from side to side). Both the articular cartilage that covers the bones and the thick fibrous capsule that surrounds the knee contribute to its strength and stability and also serve as shock absorbers against all the activities knees encounter every day. Within the cavity of the knee joint is a substance called synovial fluid, which promotes smooth movement and helps prevent friction between the two main bones that connect at your knee, the femur and tibia.
Injury, Trauma, or Aging to The Knee Joint:
Smooth, pain-free movement in the knee depends on all of these components working together. Sometimes trauma (from a sport injury, fall, or car accident, for example) weakens the knee ligaments and cartilage, upsetting the synovial fluid balance. Over time and with age, the cartilage can break down. When bony surfaces begin to rub together without the buffers that were once there, walking, bending, and standing can be very painful. This is what often accounts for the pain and discomfort associated with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Joint diseases can result in stiffness, swelling, and tenderness in the knee joint. Even the simplest daily activities can become painful, slowly diminishing your mobility and, ultimately, your quality of life.
Total Knee Replacement:
The goal of knee replacement surgery is to relieve the pain caused by damage to the cartilage of the joint surfaces on the femur and tibia. The pain can be so intense that a person will avoid using the joint, weakening the muscles around the joint, and making it even more difficult to move. To determine whether you may need surgery, consult the physicians at Round Rock Orthopaedics & Rehab. An orthopaedic surgeon, or certified physician assistant, who specializes in treating knee disorders will perform a comprehensive exam to include: a complete medical history, x-rays, assess your walking, leg motion, general joint condition and level of daily function. Additional testing may be required to show the full extent of damage to the joint. Total knee joint replacement surgery will be considered if other treatment options will not relieve your pain and disability. If, together, we decide that surgery is required, the aim of this surgery is to correct the deteriorating condition of your present knee and to help you regain movement and eliminate most of the pain you have been experiencing.
New Surgical Advancements:
Minimally Invasive Joint Replacement Surgery
Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) is a general term used to describe any surgical procedure that utilizes a smaller incision than conventional surgery. In some MIS procedures, the amount of soft tissue (muscles and tendons, etc) that is disrupted during surgery may also be reduced. MIS for joint represents a new way to perform joint replacement that involves surgical techniques performed through a smaller soft tissue “window” .
Computer-Assisted Knee Replacement
This process of combining digital images for the patient’s femur and tibia with an implant-specific software package, new computer hardware can track the precise position of the patient’s leg, the implant and the surgeon’s instruments at all times during knee surgery. It is as if the patient’s leg has a GPS tracking system the computer uses to follow it during the procedure. The Computer puts together all of the information coming from the patient and the instruments. It also tells the surgeon where the precise cuts should be made. Given that every patient’s knee geometry is different, this level of patient-specific, computer-guided accuracy is unprecedented in the history of knee replacement surgery.
After surgery, some leg movement may be initially limited, but this will improve over time as you become more comfortable with your new knee. Specially designed stockings and inflatable leg wraps may be used to maintain circulation in your legs. The walking aid (a cane, walker, or crutches) will allow gradual weight increase on your new knee and assist in healing and controlling the pain. During the process you will learn more about using a safe walking pattern and equipment in your home with self-help devices such as a raised toilet seat, a bath bench, and reaching tools. Your activity will be restricted at first. Observe these restrictions to give your hip and surrounding tissues proper time to heal.
A personal exercise program designed by one of our staff physical therapists will help to restore muscle balance and allow you to walk more comfortably. Continuing exercises at home (with a home health agency) and in an outpatient physical therapy program for several months following surgery will help you regain strength and independence. An active lifestyle that includes water exercises, walking, and biking is essential in maintaining movement of your joints and keeping you and your new knee healthy. Gauge your daily activities with your new knee in mind. Avoid strenuous movements such as twisting, jumping, and running which may damage your prosthesis.
After surgery, the knee pain you had will be gone, but you may have some discomfort when you stretch, and you may experience some pain at the site of the surgery. This will decrease and disappear over time.
