Knee Replacement Specialist

What is knee replacement surgery?

Knee replacement surgery is a blanket term used to describe several different orthopedic operations. At Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine, the team, and Dr. Sherman in particular, regularly perform:

• Total knee replacements
• Partial knee replacements
• Bilateral knee replacements

Dr. Sherman has years of experience conducting these types of surgery and is a Brigham fellowship-trained joint replacement specialist. 

What happens during knee replacement surgery?

No two knee replacement surgeries are exactly alike. The treatment process depends on the type of operation you need. 

For example, a total knee replacement involves your surgeon replacing the entire damaged or diseased joint. In contrast, a partial knee replacement requires your surgeon only replacing a portion of the joint.

A bilateral knee replacement involves your surgeon replacing both of your knee joints during the same operation.

Regardless of the type of knee replacement surgery you have, the process requires a combination of general anesthesia, epidural anesthesia, and peripheral nerve blocks. You’re asleep during the entire process, ensuring you don’t feel any pain. 

After the anesthesia sets in, your surgeon removes diseased or degenerating cartilage from the area where your thigh bone and shinbone meet. Next, your surgeon replaces these bones with a metal or plastic implant. Your surgeon also inserts a piece of metal to support the back of your knee cap, providing your joint with smooth, flexible surfaces. This ensures your new joint has a full range of motion, allowing it to move and bend comfortably. 

What is the recovery process like following knee replacement surgery?

Following knee replacement surgery, you recover in the hospital for two to three days. During this time, you take pain medication to minimize discomfort and antibiotics to lower your risk of infection. Your surgeon monitors your progress to ensure you don’t experience any complications. 

Once you return home, your surgeon provides you with a list of recovery instructions. It’s perfectly normal to experience pain, swelling, and general discomfort in the early stages of your recovery. However, if your pain becomes unbearable or doesn’t respond to your medications, call the team at Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine right away.

You also participate in physical therapy. To speed up the healing process, make sure to follow your surgeon’s advice and attend all of your follow up appointments.

If you regularly experience knee pain, you may benefit from knee replacement surgery. Schedule an appointment at Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine by calling the office or booking online today.