Total Knee Replacement

About Total Knee Replacement

Total knee replacement, or total knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure that resurfaces a knee joint damaged by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or post-traumatic wear with an artificial implant made of metal alloy and medical-grade polyethylene. The orthopedic surgeon removes the worn cartilage and a thin layer of bone from the end of the femur and top of the tibia, then fits shaped metal components onto these surfaces with a plastic spacer between them that recreates smooth joint movement; the kneecap surface may also be resurfaced depending on its condition. It is generally recommended once conservative measures such as physiotherapy, weight management, medication, and injections no longer control pain or restore mobility. The surgery is performed under spinal or general anesthesia and takes roughly one to two hours, with many centers now using computer-assisted or robotic-arm guidance to improve implant alignment. Indian hospitals treat a high volume of joint replacement cases each year and offer both traditional and minimally invasive techniques. Recovery involves supervised walking within a day of surgery, a hospital stay of several days, and a structured physiotherapy program over the following weeks to regain strength and range of motion.