The knee is the largest joint in the body. A healthy knee moves easily, allowing you to walk, turn and squat without pain. A complex network of bones, cartilage, ligaments, muscles and tendons work together to make your knee flexible.

The knee is made up of the lower end of the thigh bone (femur), which rotates on the upper end of the shin bone (tibia), and the knee cap (patella), which slides in a groove on the end of the femur. Large ligaments attach to the femur and tibia to provide stability. The long thigh muscles give the knee strength. Normally, all of these components work in harmony. But disease or injury can disrupt this harmony, resulting in pain, muscle weakness and decreased motion.

To diagnose your condition, an orthopedic surgeon will perform a thorough examination of your knee, analyze X-rays and conduct physical tests. You will be asked to describe your pain, if you suffer from other joint pain and if you have endured past injuries that may have affected your current knee condition. Your joints will then be tested for strength and range of motion through a series of activities, which include bending and walking. X-rays of your knee joint will indicate any change in size, shape or unusual circumstances.

The first step of knee care is prevention: protecting against overuse, tendonitis and ligament strains. Treatment can range from rest and anti-inflammatory medication to physical therapy and surgery. The Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital offers the most up-to-date technological advances for the treatment of mild arthritic swelling, cartilage injuries, meniscal tears, reconstruction and fractures.

• Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and traumatic arthritis are factors that may contribute to the need for total knee replacement
• A knee "replacement" is actually just a "resurfacing" of the knee joint
• During the two-hour procedure damaged cartilage and bone are replaced with new metal and plastic joint surfaces, restoring alignment of the knee
• The procedure involves either general or epidural anesthesia with a two-to
  three-day hospitalization
• Weight-bearing usually begins immediately the first postoperative day
• Patients use a walker or crutches for a period of one to two weeks, and then a cane
• People typically are off all walking aids anywhere from three weeks to two months.

• For some injuries, including reconstruction of the ACL or a torn meniscus, outpatient surgery may be the best alternative
• During this procedure small incisions are made around the knee, and a small lighted telescope with attached camera is inserted into the joint enabling the physician to view the surgery on a video monitor
• Repairs can be made while disturbing as little of the surrounding tissue as possible

• Accomplishes everything that a traditional knee replacement does, but through a
  smaller incision
• The surgeon makes a 4- to 6-inch incision compared with an 8- to 10-inch incision
• With the smaller incision come the potential benefits of a shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery and a less noticeable scar

• Used to replace a single compartment of the arthritic knee
• If damage is limited to either the medial or lateral compartment, that compartment may be replaced with the unicompartmental knee implant.
• Best suited for the older, slimmer person with a relatively sedentary lifestyle.
• Only between 6-8% of patients with arthritic knees are good candidates for unicompartmental knee replacement
• Because this replacement is inserted through a relatively small incision, rehabilitation is faster, hospitalization shorter, and return to normal activities more rapid than with a total joint replacement