Knee Pain

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If you have a knee problem, you know that joint deterioration and knee pain can affect every aspect of your life. At Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett, our orthopedic specialists work to help fix and manage your knee problems. Whether your condition is caused by an injury or a degenerative bone disease like osteoarthritis, we help you through physical therapy, rehabilitation and in some cases, knee replacement.

Knee replacement surgery is really a cartilage replacement. The knee itself is not replaced, only the cartilage on the ends of the bones. Knee replacement implants include a metal alloy on the bottom of the thighbone and polyethylene (plastic) on the top of the tibia and underneath the kneecap. The implant is designed to create a new, smoothly functioning joint that prevents painful bone-on-bone contact. Your surgeon may elect to replace all or part of your knee, depending on your condition.

The most common reasons for knee replacement surgery are:

• Osteoarthritis, a loss of joint cartilage that limits movement, causes pain and inhibits daily activity
• Other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Damage to the knee such as fractures, torn cartilage, and/or torn ligaments
• Degenerative joint disease