Total Knee Replacement

Total knee replacement (TKR) surgery, also called knee arthroplasty, is one of the most successful elective surgeries done today. The surgery replaces severely damaged cartilage tissue with a prosthesis made of metal and plastic that duplicates the function of the knee joint. Since the 1970s, the technology and long term success of knee replacement surgery has improved dramatically, providing relief to people with chronic, debilitating knee pain.

Today, more than 265,000 total knee replacements are done annually in the United States, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Although most patients are elderly, the age of patients has dropped in recent years. Now, it is not unusual for 50-year-olds to have this surgery. The results of total knee replacement surgery are predictable, and the implants are durable. Among patients having TKR, 90 to 95 percent enjoy freedom from pain and improved mobility up to 15 years after the surgery.