Knee replacement

The objective of a knee replacement is freedom from pain as well as restoration of the ability to move and walk. However, an artificial joint can never completely replace the perfection of a natural joint. One must always be aware that this is an artificial joint with mechanics that can sometimes be heard, and that it is subject to wear in proportion to the load placed on it. Before surgery, your specialist will explain the operation and the steps in the procedure. He or she will also explain what type of knee prosthesis should be implanted. However, the exact state of the joint only becomes fully visible during the procedure. It is therefore possible that at this time, deviations from the normal course of the operation as discussed with you may occur.

Soft tissue-oriented resurfacing

With the innovative method of soft tissue-oriented knee joint resurfacing, pain can be significantly reduced and quality of life greatly enhanced. In this method, the collateral ligaments of the affected knee are given special attention. In contrast to other methods, in which computers or individual templates are used to ensure that the upper and lower leg axes are properly aligned (axis-oriented method), in the soft tissue-oriented method, the forces of the medial and lateral collateral ligaments in flexed and extended positions are determined during surgery using a special soft-tissue pressure sensor. Scarred collateral ligaments are released until the affected knee, under the same amount of pressure on the medial and lateral collateral ligament, is straight again. Thus it is possible to adapt the artificial knee joint resurfacing individually to the various illness-related changes in the knee joint. Only after the collateral ligaments are balanced and the leg is straight is the surface replacement inserted to form the “new cartilage”. This ensures that the new artificial knee surface replacement is evenly loaded.

The advantages:

Less pain, with better mobility and stability. Also, no blood donation is necessary prior to surgery. This operation can be performed on both knees at the same time. After surgery, the patient can immediately put weight on and move the operated knee. The hospital stay is between five and seven days, or up to ten days when both knee joints are replaced at the same time. 

Complete resurfacing

Complete resurfacing is carried out, by implanting a complete endoprosthesis, if the whole joint must be replaced because the entire articular surface of the femur and tibia is damaged. The collateral ligaments remain as they are used to preserve the natural sequence of motion.

Knee from the front 
Knee from the side
 

X-ray of the knee before surgery
 

X-ray of the knee after surgery

 

Partial resurfacing

The unicondylar endoprosthesis – also known as a unicompartmental prosthesis or partial prosthesis – is used for partial resurfacing if only one half of the articular surface is damaged and the knee joint shows no marked deformity (such as bow-legs or knock knees). The healthy parts of the joint remain in place.

Knee from the front

Knee from the side
 

X-ray before surgery

X-ray after surgery

Patellar glide bed replacement

A patellofemoral endoprosthesis is a special partial prosthesis (patellar glide bed replacement). This implant is used when only the glide bed between the femur and patella needs to be replaced. If the osteoarthritis on the articular surface of the patella is at an advanced stage, it must be replaced by an appropriate artificial surface. This is called patellar resurfacing.

Knee from the front

Knee from the side