Tyler D. Goldberg, MD
Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
Knee Replacements in Austin, TX
A knee replacement is one of the most reliable medical procedures, especially when performed by the experts at Austin Orthopedic Institute.
More on Knee Replacements
Statistics & Technology.
Nearly 800,000 Americans have knee replacement surgery every year. At Austin Orthopedic Institute, due to medical advancements and the skill of our providers, most patients feel better than they did prior to surgery within about 6-8 weeks. However, 100% recovery after knee replacement ultimately takes around a year.
Knee replacements are done in a customizable way to meet the patients’ needs and specific medical conditions. At Austin Orthopedic Institute, our fellowship trained doctors are experts in the most current techniques, including computer assisted surgery, robotic surgery, and patient specific instrumentation.
What is Knee Replacement?
Knee replacement surgery replaces the worn, arthritic knee joint utilizing metal and polyethylene components.
Your knee has three compartments, the medial (inside), lateral (outside), and patellofemoral (knee cap). The type of knee replacement surgery you need, either partial or total, depends on how widespread or advanced your knee damage is.
This also depends on other factors like age, activity level, weight, stiffness, etc.
What Are the Options for Knee Replacements?
The two main kinds of knee replacement surgery are partial and total.
In a partial knee replacement, your provider replaces only one of the three compartments in your knee. This leaves the maximum amount of your original knee untouched. This surgery is best suited for osteoarthritis sufferers who have cartilage loss in just one knee compartment.
In a total knee replacement, your provider replaces all three knee compartments. If you have widespread cartilage loss, this might be a good option.
Your provider can explain the best type of surgery for you based on your short-term needs and long-term goals.
How Long is Recovery After Knee Replacement Surgery?
Full recovery from knee replacement surgery takes around a year. However, you should feel marginally better long before then. The majority of knee replacement patients are cleared to return to work in about three weeks for low impact jobs, and three months for higher impact jobs.
Within just 6-8 weeks, most knee replacement patients enjoy less pain and better function than prior to their surgery.
