333 N Texas Ave , Suite 2000, Webster TX 77598

Knee Replacement Surgery in Fresno, TX

Knee Replacement Surgery in Fresno, TX

The knee is the largest joint in the body, and having healthy knees is required to perform most everyday activities. The most common condition leading to orthopedic knee surgery is arthritis , and knee replacement surgery is often the preferred treatment. Knee replacement surgery, also called arthroplasty, is a common orthopedic procedure that is used to smooth and replace tissues in the knee that are damaged or worn.

When nonsurgical treatment fails to alleviate pain, knee replacement surgery may be the best option. There are two types of knee replacement procedures: total and partial. Both procedures carry high success rates, and deciding between the two depends entirely on your knee's overall condition. The main goal of knee replacement surgery is to reduce knee pain, improve function, and reduce or eliminate a limp.

Total Knee Replacement Procedure

Before total knee replacement surgery, the surgeon will evaluate your medical history and perform a series of physical examinations to assess your knee's motion, health and stability. Your doctor may also choose to perform an X-ray  or an MRI to determine the condition of the ligaments, cartilage and bone in the joint. If you are a candidate for surgery, your physician will explain your surgical options, their risks, benefits and potential disadvantages.

Those who decide to proceed with surgery commonly report that their symptoms keep them from participating in activities that are important to them, like walking, taking the stairs and sleeping. Even in a total knee replacement procedure, the physician does not replace your entire knee. Instead, the physician reshapes worn bone and cartilage surfaces that are causing pain, and he or she creates new, artificial surfaces.

For this procedure, you will receive a general or regional anesthetic—like an epidural or a peripheral nerve block. The surgeon will start by making an 8- to 12-inch incision in the front of the knee. He or she will remove the damaged part of the joint from the surface of the bones, and the surfaces are then shaped to hold a prosthetic piece. The prosthesis is attached to the thigh bone, shin and knee cap. When fitted together, the attached artificial parts form the joint, and they rely on the surrounding muscles and ligaments for support and function.

Following a total knee replacement, you should expect to spend one to three days at the hospital recovering. Your surgery's success and how well you regain optimum range of motion will depend largely on how well you follow the surgeon's instructions at home during the first few weeks after surgery.

Partial Knee Replacement Surgery

In cases where the knees don't wear out evenly, a partial knee replacement procedure may be necessary. This is often the case for patients with osteoarthritis because the damage is confined to a particular compartment of the knee. Depending on where the damage is in your knee, partial knee replacement may be an option for you. A partial joint replacement procedure involves removing damaged tissue and bone in the knee joint. The areas are replaced with a man-made implant called a prosthetic.

The advantage to this approach is that it requires a smaller incision than a total knee replacement procedure, and it does not disturb the healthy tissues of your knee. By selectively targeting the portion of the knee that has become damaged, your surgeon can isolate and resurface only the damaged portion of the knee without compromising the healthy bone and tissue surrounding it.

Request more information about knee replacement surgery today. Call (281) 481-2649 or contact Dr. David Vanderweide online.

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Hours and Directions
David G. Vanderweide MD, PA
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Address

333 N Texas Ave
Suite 2000
Webster, TX 77598
(281) 481-2649
www.dvanderweide.com

Areas We Service:

Alvin, TX, Pearland, TX, Fresno, TX, Bacliff, TX, Dickinson, TX, Friendswood, TX, Hitchcock, TX, League City, TX, Santa Fe, TX, Houston, TX, La Porte, TX, Pasadena, TX, Seabrook, TX, Clear Lake City, TX