6 Steps to Prepare Yourself for a Knee Replacement Surgery

The sooner surgery is performed following an injury or degenerative problem, the more quickly and safely a patient can recover. A successful surgery requires a strong commitment on the part of the patient to work with their surgeon and physical therapist during their recovery. We describe the different ways patients can prepare for knee replacement surgery.

Step 1: Making the Proper Knee Incision

In traditional knee replacement surgery, an incision is made on the front of the knee to allow access to the kneecap so it can be removed and replaced. For minimally invasive knee surgery, the incision is smaller than for traditional surgery. The advantages of a smaller scar are offset by the practicality and comfort of a larger area. Discuss your options with your doctor.

Step 2: Rotating the Kneecap

The patella is the bone at the front of your knee. The surgeon will move the patella outside the knee area so that you will not be able to bend or rotate your knee. This allows him to work better and see the area that he is performing the procedure on.

Step 3: Preparing the Thigh Bone

The thigh bone (femur) is the bone in your upper leg that is closest to your body when you are standing up. Your surgeon will make precise cuts with special instruments to remove the damaged bone and cartilage from the end of your femur. Once these areas have been removed, the bone will be reshaped to fit into a new joint surface on your knee.

Step 4: Placing the Femoral Component

The surgeon attaches the metal femoral component to a special implant that is permanently placed inside of your femur, then uses bone cement to seal it into place.

Step 5: Preparing the Shinbone

The surgeon removes damaged bone and cartilage from the top of your tibia, reshapes it to fit new metal and plastic components, and then replaces the components.

Step 6: Placing the Tibial Component

The bottom portion of the implant, called the tibial tray, is fitted to the tibia and secured into place using bone cement. Once the tray is in place, an insert is snapped into place that acts as a kind of buffer. This insert provides support for your body as you bend and flex your knee.

Step 7: Re-adjusting the Patella

Your surgeon might need to flatten the patella and fit it with a plastic component in order to ensure a proper fit with the rest of your implant. The plastic piece is cemented to the underlying bone.

Step 8: Finalize the Procedure

The surgeon will bend each knee, flexing and extending them to ensure that the implants are working correctly. To complete the procedure, the surgeon will close your incision with stitches or staples, and then bandage it and prepare you for recovery in a hospital bed.