Total Knee Replacement

Total Knee Replacement services offered in Wasilla, AK

Total knee replacement is one of the most common orthopedic surgeries, with about 850,000 Americans undergoing the procedure each year. At Pioneer Peak Orthopedics in Wasilla, Alaska, the board-certified surgeons take a minimally invasive approach to total knee replacement whenever possible, using smaller incisions to reduce pain and speed up recovery. Call Pioneer Peak Orthopedics to schedule a total knee replacement consultation, or book your appointment online today.

What is total knee replacement?

Total knee replacement is an orthopedic surgery that replaces severely damaged or diseased cartilage and bone surfaces in the knee with prosthetic pieces made of metal or plastic. These artificial replacements relieve pain and help your knee work better, restoring your joint’s range of motion and your general mobility.

Most cases of knee pain can be managed with conservative measures, such as ice, rest, and physical therapy. However, if your pain is due to severe damage caused by a traumatic injury or a chronic medical condition, joint replacement surgery may be necessary.

Am I a candidate for total knee replacement surgery?

You may be a candidate for total knee replacement surgery if you have severe symptoms, including:

Joint pain
Stiffness
Limited mobility
Swelling

This is especially true if you’ve been diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) or your symptoms are caused by trauma, such as a car accident, fall, or sports injury.

What happens during total knee replacement surgery?

Total knee replacement surgery takes one to three hours on average.

On the day of your operation, your surgeon administers general anesthesia, which causes you to fall asleep. Then, they make an incision in your knee and remove the damaged or diseased bone and cartilage.

Once the damaged pieces of tissue are removed, your surgeon replaces them with a prosthetic knee joint made of metal or plastic. They also insert a small plastic piece, called a spacer, to recreate the smooth cushion or cartilage that pads your knee joint.

After all the prosthetic components are in place, your surgeon closes the incisions and moves you to a recovery room. You stay in the hospital for a day or two while your knee begins healing. During this time, get plenty of rest, drink plenty of water, and take your medication as prescribed.

What is recovery like after total knee replacement?

After total knee replacement surgery, it’s normal to experience some bruising, swelling, and discomfort. You must use crutches or another mobility device as you begin healing to take pressure off your joint and reduce the risk of re-injury.

About a week after you’re discharged from the hospital, you begin physical therapy. Physical therapy helps restore your range of motion and promotes healing with manual therapies, stretching, and strengthening exercises.

Call Pioneer Peak Orthopedics today to schedule a total knee replacement consultation, or book your appointment online.