Our Services / Knee Replacement

What is knee replacement?

If you’ve suffered a severe knee injury or your knees have worn down over time, making it difficult to move, knee replacement might be the right option for you. Focusing on relieving knee pain and restoring your knee function, the team at Coastal Ortho provides a variety of knee replacement prostheses depending on your age, weight, knee size and shape, and overall health condition. The team also uses the Mako for robotic knee replacement. 

Knee replacement surgery can help restore your ability to walk, climb stairs, stand up and sit down, and overall maintain an active lifestyle. If you feel that you’re a candidate for knee replacement, the team at Coastal Ortho are happy to discuss your treatment options with you.

When should I get knee replacement surgery?

Chronic knee pain causing difficulty in performing daily activities typically requires knee replacement surgery. Arthritis is the common cause of this knee pain, with several types existing. 

These types of arthritis include:

Osteoarthritis

Typically occurring in individuals 50 years and older, osteoarthritis develops over time due to wear-and-tear on your knees. With this type of arthritis, the cartilage that cushions the bones of your knee softens and wears down, causing your bones to rub against one another and create knee pain and stiffness.

Rheumatoid arthritis 

This disease affects your synovial membrane, which is the connective soft-tissue membrane that surrounds your joints. Rheumatoid arthritis causes this membrane to become inflamed and thickened, resulting in damage to your cartilage and eventual loss of cartilage, as well. 

Post-traumatic arthritis

This type of arthritis typically occurs due to a serious knee injury, such as bone fractures around the knee or knee ligament tears. This can damage the articular cartilage of your knee over time, causing chronic knee pain and difficulty functioning. 

Whether you know the cause of your chronic knee pain or not, the team at Coastal Ortho can assess your knee issues and help you determine if you should receive knee replacement surgery. 

What should I expect from a knee replacement procedure?

When you come into Coastal Ortho to prepare for your knee replacement, the team assesses your knee’s range of motion, stability, and strength. They also take X-rays to determine the extent of the damage. After this, they ensure you’re aware of the procedure details and any medications or dietary supplements that you should stop taking beforehand to avoid potential complications. 

Once you’re ready for the surgery to take place, the team administers anesthesia and gives you an antibiotic to prevent post-surgical infection. Once you’ve been numbed or put to sleep, the surgeon begins removing your damaged joint surfaces and attaching the artificial joint pieces. Once the pieces are put in place, they bend and rotate your knee to ensure it works properly. 

You should ensure you have someone to help you complete daily tasks, such as cooking, bathing, and doing laundry, while you recover from your surgery. Over time you should increase your activity level by completing exercises with a physical therapist and establishing full function of your new knee. 

To learn more about knee replacement and if it’s the right option for you, call Coastal Ortho in Torrance and El Segundo, California, or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment today.