MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia:Knee joint replacement

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Knee joint replacement - series: Procedure

Knee joint replacement - seriesIllustrations:

Normal anatomy

Indications

Procedure

Aftercare

The operation is performed under general anesthesia. The orthopedic surgeon makes an incision over the affected knee. The patella (knee cap) is moved out of the way, and the heads of the femur and tibia are shaved to eliminate any rough parts and to permit a better adhesion of the prosthesis. The two parts of the prosthesis are implanted into the thigh bone and the tibia bone using a special bone cement.

Update Date: 7/27/2007

Updated by: Steve Lee, DO, Rheumatology Fellow, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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