Knee joints are in constant use and sometimes through lifetime use or injury they can become painful or your knee may not function correctly. But what is the difference between a healthy and an unhealthy knee and what can be done?
In a healthy knee, cartilage and ligaments allow the knee to move smoothly without pain and also to bend and flex easily. An unhealthy knee can cause you pain and stiffness which can limit your daily activities. This can be caused by inflammation, injury or simply because of a lifetime of use.
The knee is formed by three bones; femur, tibia, and patella, which are supported by the muscles and ligaments. The ligaments interact with the legs muscles to control and stabilise the knee during activities. The ligaments also help protect the knee from damage along with a layer of cartilage which allows the bony surfaces of the knee to move smoothly against one another
During a total knee replacement, the damaged bone is removed, and the artificial implants are inserted. There are three main components to the artificial knee; the tibia component, the femoral component and the patellar component. All three are designed to work together to re-create healthy knee joint mechanics.
There are different surgical approaches for total knee replacement surgery such as a traditional approach or robotic-assisted surgery. Your surgeon will choose the most appropriate option for your condition.
For more information on total knee replacement click here to go to our dedicated patient page.
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