What Does a Knee Replacement Look Like?

What is total knee replacement?

Total knee replacement is surgery to replace your knee joint with an artificial (prosthetic) one made of metal and plastic. A surgeon will take out your knee joint and insert artificial replacement parts.

These days, knee replacements are some of the most successful surgeries. More than 9 in 10 people have noticeably less pain after they recover.

You might need knee replacement surgery if you have severe symptoms that make it hard to move or use your knee. This can include issues like pain, stiffness or a decreased range of motion. Eventually, symptoms might be so bad that you start avoiding some of your usual activities.

Your healthcare provider will try other, nonsurgical treatments first. But if these don’t manage the symptoms, they might suggest knee replacement surgery.

What to expect during surgery

A knee replacement usually takes an hour or two. Your surgeon will make an incision on the front of your knee. Then, they’ll remove all the damaged cartilage inside it. Your surgeon will reshape your bones and insert metal caps on their ends. After that, they’ll insert the prosthetic knee. If you have arthritis under your kneecap, they’ll resurface that, too.

It usually takes around a year to recover. Your surgeon will give you a customized recovery plan. But in general, you’ll start walking and using your knee right away. Your care team will help you manage pain after the surgery and while you recover.

Physical therapy (PT) will be a big part of your recovery. You’ll work with a physical therapist for a few months. They’ll help you start to move almost right away. PT will help you bend your knee, walk and regain your strength and range of motion.

You should feel much better and stronger after about six weeks. Three to four months after your surgery, you should be able to resume almost all your usual activities. You might even notice you can get back to doing things you couldn’t before surgery.