Knee replacement

Our hospitals have earned national recognition for our joint replacement programs thanks to our excellent surgical teams and our commitment to addressing your individual needs. We work hard to provide:

• Care throughout the journey — We are with you every step of the way, offering case management and customized care plans suited to your needs.
• Excellent joint replacement outcomes — As our knee replacement patient, you will spend very little time in the hospital after surgery, an average of two to three days.
• Personalized rehabilitation (rehab) plans — We offer both inpatient and outpatient on-site rehab services to help you recover as quickly as possible after knee surgery.
• Preoperative education — Our experienced teams offer joint replacement orientation before your surgery. It includes a tour of your surgical hospital, as well as what to expect in each phase of the process.

Not everyone who experiences pain in the knee joint should receive a knee replacement. It's always a good idea to speak with your doctor first about less invasive ways to address painful joints, such as braces or anti-inflammatory injections.

However, you may be considered a good candidate for knee replacement surgery if you:

• Experience knee pain during physical activity
• Feel knee pain while resting
• Have difficulty sitting, climbing stairs or bending down due to knee pain or discomfort
• Have tried other treatments, such as diet, exercise and medications without successfully relieving your knee pain
• Wake up during the night because of knee pain

We offer two main types of knee replacement surgery. Your surgical team will work with you to find which option is best for you, and will bring you the best possible results.

Partial knee replacement (knee resurfacing)

Knee resurfacing is performed when damage is limited to a portion of the knee (inside, outside or front). This less invasive procedure is used when we are able to spare healthy tissue and bone in your knee.

Total knee replacement (total knee arthroplasty)

When too much damage has been done to the knee to allow for knee resurfacing, a total knee replacement may be needed. In this procedure, orthopedic surgeons resurface damaged portions of all three bones (thigh, shin and kneecap) that form the knee joint. They do this by using metal and plastic implants, which vary depending on your weight, size and activity level.

When possible, our orthopedic surgeons use minimally invasive techniques so you can have a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery. Sometimes this includes robot-assisted surgery, which relies on 3D preoperative planning tools and real-time intraoperative data on your bone anatomy and soft-tissue. This "mapping" process allows our surgeons to personalize surgeries and enhance outcomes.

After your knee surgery, the best and fastest road to recovery is through a comprehensive physical therapy and rehabilitation plan. Our surgical and rehab teams will work with you to design a plan tailored to your needs. We are always ready to answer your questions to make sure you and your whole family are comfortable with your treatment plan.

Often, your rehabilitation will begin the day of surgery, when you walk from the stretcher to your bed after leaving the recovery room, and you will get stronger every day afterward. However, in some cases your physical therapist may recommend you continue physical therapy after your discharge, either at one of our hospitals or at another location closer to your home.