For Our Patients and Their Families  

New Techniques and materials for implants and an extraordinary level of protection against infection now afford patients greater relief from pain and better mobility with joint replacement surgery.

This section of the site will give you a detailed explanation of joint surgery and its benefits. We want you and your family to understand this procedure and know what to expect during your hospitalization and when you return home.

The Knee  

To understand the replacement procedure you need to know how the knee is constructed and how it works. The knee is the largest joint in the body and the ability to walk easily depends upon the intricate working of the knee joint where the thigh bone meets the shin bone. These bones are separated by cartilage which acts as a cushion and allows movement. In front of these bones, the knee cap glides in a groove and provides a round shield for protection. Much of the knee's stability and its principle movements of bending and straightening depends on muscles and ligaments.

In a non-arthritic knee, these elements work in perfect harmony to move the joint.

The knee joint flexes, extends, and rotates as a person walks, sits, bends forward, and climbs stairs. Nature has provided a self-lubricating system of healthy, white cartilage to cover the ends of these bones. It is this smooth, slippery surface that enables the knee to glide like a well-oiled machine with no rough spots to interfere with its precise, rhythmic motion.