Knee arthritis is typically treated initially with nonsurgical methods like anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and activity modification, but these methods may not be effective for patients with severe arthritis. If painful knee arthritis affects a patient’s everyday life, knee replacement surgery can dramatically improve mobility and quality of life.
Dr. Lucian Warth is a board certified and fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in joint replacement surgery. He has extensive training in knee replacement surgery and completed his fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City, a facility renowned for its work in joint replacement surgery. He is trained in several knee replacement techniques and approaches, including total knee replacement, partial knee replacement, computer-assisted knee replacement, and cementless knee replacement.
When Is Knee Replacement Recommended?
Because there are several different options for knee replacement, it is important to select the right candidates for each procedure to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Generally speaking, knee replacement surgery may be recommended if a patient is experiencing the following problems:
- Knee pain and/or stiffness that is severe enough to affect everyday life, even with nonsurgical treatment
- Knee pain that continues while at rest
- Recurring inflammation and swelling in the knee that does not resolve with nonsurgical treatment
- Knee deformity caused by severe arthritis
When recommending a particular knee procedure to a patient, Dr. Warth considers additional factors to ensure the right fit for the patient’s anatomy and lifestyle. This may include factoring in the patient’s age, activity level, the location of arthritis damage, and the severity of the damage in the knee.
Knee Replacement Procedures
Dr. Warth recommends knee replacement procedures and implants based on the patient’s natural kinematics (the motion of the knee) and desired lifestyle, with special thought given to the patient’s day to day life. Learn more about Dr. Warth’s knee replacement experience and options below.
Total Knee Replacement
Total knee replacement involves removing the damaged bone and cartilage from the entire knee joint and replacing it with implants. For patients with severe arthritis throughout the knee, total knee replacement can provide pain relief and improved quality of life.
Partial Knee Replacement
The knee is divided into 3 segments, called compartments: the medial compartment (inner part of the knee), the lateral compartment (outer part of the knee), and the patellofemoral compartment (front of the knee, in the kneecap area). If a patient has knee arthritis that is limited to only one of these compartments, partial knee replacement may be an option. With a partial knee replacement, Dr. Warth only replaces the damaged compartment of the knee, leaving the healthy compartments intact. This can be a great option for younger, more active patients because a partial knee replacement may feel more “normal” or natural as compared to a total knee replacement.
Cementless Knee Replacement
Traditionally, knee replacement implants are held in place with bone cement. However, bone cement can gradually break down over time, eventually resulting in implant loosening that requires a revision joint replacement to correct. Cementless knee replacement implants have a porous surface that allows the patient’s bone to grow into it, holding the implant in place without the need for bone cement. This may be an option for younger patients who have knee arthritis, but still have good bone quality.
Computer-Assisted Knee Replacement
Dr. Warth also frequently performs computer-assisted knee replacements, also known as robotic-assisted knee replacements. This involves using computer navigation to pre-plan the procedure and guide implant placement. This can help with implant placement and ensuring that the knee is well-balanced.
Recovering from Knee Replacement Surgery
The vast majority of Dr. Warth’s patients are able to return home the same day following a knee replacement.
The recovery process for a knee replacement differs from a hip replacement in that physical therapy and exercise are very important to a patient’s long-term results. Dr. Warth can help to set a patient up for success by selecting the right procedure and implants and ensuring proper alignment, but the knee can still get stiff if the patient does not commit to physical therapy.
Following surgery, patients have in-home physical therapy for the first 2 weeks. Patients must also perform at-home exercises 5 times per day. The 2-4 weeks after surgery tend to be the most painful, but most people are able to return to work and normal activities like driving in an average of 6-8 weeks.
While knee replacements do not yield perfect results in terms of function, they do offer substantial improvement upon arthritis symptoms if a patient commits to the therapy program. Dr. Warth estimates that 85-90% of patients see 85-90% improvement after they have fully recovered, which is a great improvement on overall quality of life and allows patients to participate in daily activities with fewer issues than they had before.
Knee Replacement Surgery in Indianapolis & Surrounding Communities
Dr. Lucian Warth is a board certified knee replacement specialist who completed training at elite institutions in the field of orthopedics and joint replacement. Dr. Warth is skilled in several options for knee replacement, from total and partial knee replacement to the latest technologies like computer-assisted knee replacement and cementless implant options. He also frequently takes on some of the most complex cases in knee replacement.
If you would like to learn more about knee replacement with Dr. Warth or schedule a consultation, please call our office at (317) 817-1200 or request an appointment online.