Total Knee Arthroplasty eMedicine Orthopedics

Description: Total knee replacement in some form has been practiced for over 50 years. The complexities of the knee joint only began to be understood 30 years ago. Because of this, total knee replacement initially was not as successful as Sir John Charnley's artificial hip. However, over the last 20 years, dramatic advancements in the knowledge of knee mechanics have led to design modifications that appear to be durable. Significant advances have occurred in the type and quality of the metals, polyethylene, and more recently, ceramics used in the prosthesis manufacturing process, leading to improved longevity. As with most techniques in modern medicine, more and more patients are receiving the benefits of total knee arthroplasty (TKA)
Synonyms and related keywords: TKA, total knee replacement, knee replacement, knee replacement surgery, knee surgery, knee pain, osteoarthritis of the knee, total joint arthroplasty, artificial knee
Palmer & Cross 2004 Updated: Sep 21, 2010