Total knee replacement is considered one of the most successful operations ever invented and is now performed over 600,000 times annually in the US. It can offer substantial pain relief and functional improvement for patients suffering from knee arthritis.
Traditionally, knee replacement has involved using sizing devices during the surgery to measure a patient’s femur and tibial size. Using this information, the surgeon chooses the “off the shelf” replacement size that most closely matches the patient. Custom knee replacement differs from this in that rather than measuring and sizing the knee during the surgery and choosing the implant that most closely matches the patient’s anatomy, custom knee replacement utilizes a pre-operative CT scan to “build” a custom, unique knee replacement that perfectly fits a patient’s anatomy. No two custom knee replacements are alike. Each Conformis custom knee replacement is individually sized and shaped to fit each patient’s unique anatomy, potentially offering advantages over “off-the-shelf” knee implants. For more information on Conformis, visit Conformis.com.
Benefits of custom partial or total knee replacement compared to the traditional knee replacement surgery, may include the following:
- Smaller incision
- Less surgical dissection
- Less soft tissue irritation
- Improved knee balance
- More natural gait pattern
- Improved range of motion
Who is a candidate for custom partial or total knee replacement?
The indications for custom partial or total knee replacement are similar to traditional partial or total knee replacement. Patients who have disabling knee pain due to arthritis, are healthy and have failed conservative treatments are candidates.
Your custom partial or total knee replacement begins with a consultation and examination. Dr. Melvin will perform a thorough history and physical exam, and review all imaging. This will allow him to fully understand your diagnosis, overall health as well as your social and support situation. If custom partial or total knee replacement is determined to be the most appropriate treatment, a detailed plan for the full surgical episode, from pre-surgery preparation through the recovery, will be discussed.
Risks
As with any major surgery, there are associated risks and complications may occur. Complications of custom partial or total knee replacement are similar to traditional partial or total knee replacement and can include:
- Knee stiffness
- Infection
- Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis)
- Nerve and blood vessel damage
- Ligament injuries
- Patella (kneecap) dislocation or avascular necrosis
- Plastic liner wears out
- Loosening of the implant
- Constipation
- Anemia
- Heart attack, stroke, death