Knee replacement is a surgical procedure in which a diseased or damaged knee joint is replaced with an artificial joint called a prosthesis. Made of metal alloys and high grade plastics, the prosthesis is designed to move just like a healthy human knee joint. Today greater than 90% of patients undergoing knee replacement have a complication-free result which relieves pain and restores mobility.
The traditional surgical approach to knee replacement is through a surgical incision down the center of the knee that cuts through the quadriceps (thigh) muscle and tendons to expose the knee joint.
The quadriceps muscle is the main muscle responsible for strength and stability of the knee.
In the quadriceps sparing knee replacement approach, the surgeon, instead of cutting the quadriceps muscle and tendon, comes under this muscle to slide it to the outside of the knee and allow the joint to be exposed and surgically replaced with a prosthesis without cutting the muscle and tendon.
Because the quadriceps muscle and tendon remain intact throughout the surgical procedure, the patient may experience improved ability to immediately walk, faster recovery and progression from walker to cane and then off the cane, and improved strength and function particularly for stairs and getting out of chairs. Patients also report less postoperative pain.
From muscular strains and fracture to arthritic conditions and sports injuries, the physicians and staff of Shore Orthopaedic University Associates are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopaedic problems. Contact us at www.shoreorthodocs.com or (609) 927-1991 to schedule a one on one consultation with our physicians.
