Knee replacement surgery
Surgeons in Duke’s nationally ranked orthopaedic center perform hundreds of knee replacement surgeries each year. Our specialists in Raleigh and Durham have the expertise to get you back to your normal routine faster. Our orthopaedic surgeons develop and refine techniques for partial knee replacement and total knee replacement surgeries, including minimally invasive knee replacement options. We offer you the best care possible including less risk of complications and a decreased likelihood of needing additional surgery down the road.
Lasting results for knee replacement surgery
When painful, stiff knees don’t respond to conservative measures like physical therapy and medication, you need a more permanent solution. Our goal is to relieve you of the painful symptoms associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or post traumatic arthritis, and restore you to an active lifestyle. If you need a knee replacement, we offer a variety of options with demonstrated success. During the past 25 years, our orthopaedic surgeons have seen greater than 90 percent success with the original artificial knee we implanted. We have the expertise and technology to give you lasting results and a great patient experience.
Choose Duke Orthopaedics for your knee replacement surgery because we offer:
- Emerging techniques, better results. Our orthopaedic surgeons were early adopters of important new technologies like patient-specific, computer-assisted and minimally invasive knee replacements. These techniques offer greater precision in placing the artificial knee and benefits like a shorter hospital stay and a faster recovery.
- Highly specialized team of surgeons. Our board-certified physicians are fellowship-trained, meaning they have undergone additional years of specialized training. Many perform joint replacement procedures exclusively. This helps them to manage both routine and complicated replacements effectively. Our orthopaedic program is consistently ranked as one of the top in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
- Superior long-term results. We are well known for our surgical excellence. In fact, about a third of our knee replacements are done to correct surgeries preformed elsewhere.
- Convenient, knee-specific physical therapy. Our in-house physical therapy team allows you to have therapy sessions in the same place as your clinic visits, with physical therapists specializing in knee rehabilitation.
- Innovative treatment options. As leaders in the field of orthopaedic and joint replacement research, our joint replacement surgeons constantly test and develop promising new procedures and artificial joints. Our goal is making joint replacements work better and last longer.
- Comprehensive support for recovery. Our expert team -- including regional anesthesiologists, pain specialists, specially trained nurses and physical therapists help shorten your hospital stay and hasten your recovery.
KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY
Treatments
Our surgeons have several knee replacement options for eliminating your pain and getting you back on your feet.
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When knee arthritis affects only one section of your knee, you may be a candidate for a partial knee replacement, which resurfaces the worn part of the joint with a metal and plastic liner. Since we preserve more bone, you have better function and movement.
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Removes damaged cartilage and resurfaces the end of the thigh bone and the top of the lower leg bone with metal where the two bones join together. During total knee replacement surgery, a plastic spacer is placed between the metal components to create a smooth gliding surface, which also alleviates pain and improves your gait.
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This emerging approach uses shorter incisions -- typically only four to six inches long -- compared to the traditional eight to 10 inches. Early studies link this approach to shorter hospital stays, less blood loss, and a quicker return to normal activities. Minimally invasive knee replacement may be combined with computer-assisted techniques to improve results.
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We helped to develop this GPS-like technology used during surgery to guide the placement of surgical instruments, and increase precision placement of the artificial knee joint.
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Allows doctors to customize the knee replacement to your unique anatomy by making a 3-D model of the leg and hip. This is used to create an individualized procedure plan and a one-of-a-kind surgical guide for your operation.
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Many of the knee replacements we perform are revisions of unsuccessful surgeries done elsewhere. Our orthopaedic surgeons are committed to alleviating your pain and disability after a previous knee replacement surgery.