Total Knee Joint Replacement

Are You Considering Knee Replacement Surgery?

Each patient is unique, but generally candidates for knee replacement surgery have:

• Pain severe enough to restrict not only work and recreation, but also the routine activities of daily living
• Pain that is not relieved by more conservative methods of treatment, such as reduced activity, medication or physical therapy
• Significant joint stiffness and loss of mobility
• X-rays that show advanced arthritis or other degenerative problems

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has concluded that knee replacement surgery is "a safe and cost-effective treatment for alleviating pain and restoring function in patients who do not respond to non-surgical therapies."¹ According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, knee replacement procedures have resulted in significant restoration of function and reduction of pain in about 90% of patients.² As you read,make a note of anything you don't understand. Your doctor will be happy to answer your questions so that you'll feel comfortable and confident with your chosen treatment plan.

1. National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement: Total Knee Replacement 12/10/03.
2. AAOS website, http://orthoinfo.aaos. org/topic.cfm?topic=A00385, accessed April 2011.