As large joints that handle a lot of daily stress, knees are susceptible to damage. While walking down the street, knees bear three to five times of the bodies weight. When climbing stairs, that force can multiply to seven times a person’s body weight. Such excessive use can increase wear and tear and make knees more vulnerable to arthritis and injuries.

To help Coachella Valley residents suffering from debilitating knee pain, orthopedic specialists in the Arthritis Institute at Desert Regional Medical Center are performing what the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons call one of the most important orthopedic surgical advancement of this century – total knee replacement.

"Pain in the knee joint arises due to cartilage damage. This may be from injury, wear and tear, or arthritis in the joint. As a result, the joint becomes less mobile and more painful," said Robert Fay, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at the Arthritis Institute. "The goal of total knee replacement is to relieve the pain caused by the damage and help the patient return to their normal active lifestyle."

"In the past, total knee replacement was primarily considered to only be applicable for the elderly," adds Dr. Fay. "However, today we are seeing an increase in sports-related injuries that may benefit from a knee replacement."

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, about 267,000 total knee replacements are performed each year in the United States.

During total knee replacement the damaged part of the joint is substituted with an artificial joint. The artificial joint is made of two parts: a metal piece that fits snugly into a matching plastic piece. It is modeled to fit the knee joint in a way that allows for movement and function to be restored to the knee.

For many patients who have undergone total knee replacement, the results of surgery have been positive. More than 90 percent of individuals who undergo total knee replacement experience a dramatic reduction of knee pain and a significant improvement in the ability to perform common activities and daily living. It may give years of pain-free and mobile living that may not have been otherwise possible.

People with the following symptoms may be candidates for total knee replacement surgery:

• Severe knee pain that limits your everyday activities, including walking or going up and down stairs
• Moderate or severe knee pain while resting, either day or night
• Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that doesn’t improve with rest or medications
• Knee deformity – a bowing in or out of the knee
• Knee stiffness – inability to bend and straighten the knee
• Failure to substantially improve with other treatments such as cortisone injections, physical therapy, or other surgeries

"The good news is, not everyone who comes into my office with knee pain requires a total knee replacement," said Dr. Fay. "Often a less invasive procedure such as an injection, arthroscopic surgery or even a metal spacer or unicompartmentel knee surgery may be indicated. Regardless of the condition we always try conservative management first."

For more information on total knee replacement or the Arthritis Institute at Desert Regional Medical Center, please call (760) 416-4515.