Knee replacement Q&A 

What is a knee replacement?

A knee replacement is an operation for serious damage to or arthritis of the knee. During a knee replacement operation, the surgeon removes the rough, damaged surfaces and replaces them with surfaces made from metal and plastic.

Why do I need the operation?

When you have any kind of knee replacement, the surgeon is trying to relieve your pain, get you moving more easily and stop your knee from giving way or locking.

How many types of operation are there?

There are two types of knee replacement. A total knee replacement resurfaces your whole knee. A partial knee replacement resurfaces only the inner or outer half of your knee and can be done through a smaller cut than a total knee operation.

What type of artificial knee will I have?

There are dozens of different types of artificial knee parts. The British Orthopaedic Association and the British Association for Surgery of the Knee recommend artificial implants that have been used for at least 10 years, while the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence recommend materials that will last for between 15 and 20 years.

Can a knee replacement help me?

There is a very good chance that the pain in your knee will get better or go away completely, whatever type of operation you have. You will be able to bend your knee and move more easily, and the benefits of your operation will last for at least five years.

What are the risks?

Research suggests that in hospitals that do lots of knee replacement operations things are less likely to go wrong. Problems that can occur include getting blood clots in your legs or lungs, damage to the nerves in your leg, and infection.

What will happen if I choose not to have a knee replacement?

If you choose not to have this operation, your arthritis or injury may not get better. Arthritis usually progresses very slowly, often over many years. Having arthritis can make your life more difficult, but it is unlikely to make it shorter. Injury to the knee, however, should be treated if it is causing you pain or difficulty in walking.

What are the alternatives to a knee replacement?

There are a number of things you can do to help manage your knee pain without drugs. These include staying active, keeping your weight down, seeing a physiotherapist, or using physical aids such as walking sticks. Drug treatments include painkillers and injections into your knee to lessen the pain. The two most common drugs injected into the knee joint are steroids, and hyaluronic acid.

What other types of knee surgery are there?

If medicines and injections have not helped, some surgeons may try putting a tiny camera into your knee and washing out the joint to see if this helps your pain and stiffness. This is called a knee arthroscopy. If you have injury to or arthritis in only one half of your knee, you may benefit from a different operation called an osteotomy, which aims to straighten your knee so when you walk your weight falls evenly on the whole knee, not just the inside half. An osteotomy can work as well as a partial knee replacement.

How long will it take to get back to normal after the knee replacement?

The pain should disappear quite soon after your operation, but it could take you up to three months to feel completely normal. Your physiotherapy should start the day after your operation, when you should be able to sit on the side of your bed and move your knee. You will be able to go home when you can manage steps or stairs, and get to the bathroom and back on your own. This usually takes five to ten days.