Understanding the Different Types of Knee Replacement Implants
People's bodies change as they age, and they begin to experience severe pain in various areas. Some people may experience knee pain, making it difficult for them to go about their daily lives. Normal pain can be managed with medications prescribed by doctors, as well as treatments such as physiotherapy, acupuncture, and so on. If the pain persists, your orthopedic doctors will recommend knee replacement surgery. Knee replacement is a surgical procedure that replaces the damaged knee joint with artificial components. These man-made components, known as implants, are made of metals and/or plastic. The doctor will either remove a portion of the knee joint or replace it entirely with surgical implants. Depending on the patient's condition, a partial or total knee replacement surgery may be performed. Knee pain is significantly reduced in patients who have had knee replacement surgery.
- Bone deformities such as knocked knees, bow legs, and so on are corrected.
- Knee inflammation that lasts for a long time or knee pain while resting or sleeping
- Sports-related joint injuries and everyday wear and tear
- For stability, use the knee and muscles. In most knee surgeries, the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is removed prior to implant placement.
- Semi-constrained implants: These are used when the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) is unstable and must be removed. In this case, the two components of semi-constrained implants are joined together by a hinge to provide stability.
- Constrained implants: These implants are used when the knee is extremely unstable; in this case, the upper and lower components are joined by a hinged mechanism. A long stem connects these implants to a bone on each side.