Total knee replacement
Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes the cartilage developed by the bones to protect them from the wear caused by using the knee to break down. Once this deterioration has started, it develops progressively. At advanced stages of the condition, this breakdown causes pain and prevents patients from walking or standing normally. There are currently no medications to halt the breakdown at this stage.
When the pain cannot be managed with the usual painkillers, total knee replacement surgery is required, also known as arthroplasty.
The aims of knee replacement surgery are to:
- Alleviate pain.
- Re-establish correct knee function.
- Stabilise the joint.
- Improve the patient’s quality of life so that they can go back to walking normally.
Treatment description
During surgery, joint surfaces that are missing cartilage are replaced by an artificial implant made of chrome, cobalt or titanium.Once the affected part has been removed, the metal implant is put into place and fixed to the bone using cement.
At Valld’Hebron Hospital, we perform up to 500 knee replacement operations a year.