When total knee replacement is recommended?

The decision to have total knee replacement surgery is usually made cooperatively by you, your family, your family physician, and your orthopedic surgeon. 

Your physician may first refer you to an orthopedic surgeon for a thorough evaluation to determine if you might benefit from this surgery. 

There are several reasons why your doctor may recommend knee replacement surgery. 

You might be recommended to undergo a knee replacement if you  have;

1) Severe knee pain or stiffness that limits everyday activities, including walking, climbing stairs, and getting in and out of chairs. You may find it hard to walk more than a few blocks without significant pain and you may need to use a cane or walker.

 2) Moderate or severe knee pain while resting, either during the day or at night.

3) Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that does not improve with rest or medications.

4) Knee deformity — a bowing in or out of your knee.

5) Failure to substantially improve your condition with other treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, lubricating injections, physical therapy, or other surgeries.

There are no absolute age or weight restrictions for total knee replacement surgery. Recommendations for surgery are based on a patient's pain and disability, not age. Most patients who undergo knee replacement are aged 50 to 80, but orthopedic surgeons evaluate patients individually. Total knee replacements have been performed successfully at all ages in patients with degenerative arthritis.