Primary or Total knee replacement

An Introduction to Primary Knee Replacement

If the procedure is a simple replacement of the total knee, the surgery is called Primary Knee Replacement. Primary Knee Replacement surgery is also referred as Total Knee Arthroplasty or TKA in short


Who can get Primary Knee Replacement?
Arthritis is the biggest problem that affects the knee joint. There are more than hundred types of arthritis that can affect and damage the knee joints. The common types of arthritis are degenerative arthritis (due to aging), rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, etc. Post-traumatic arthritis can also lead to knee damage. Apart from the different types of arthritis, problems caused by slight misalignment of any of the leg bone can also cause wear and tear of the cartilage and damage them.


When the degree of damage passes a threshold, primary knee replacement is recommended.

Minimally Invasive Primary Knee Replacement Surgical Procedure

In most of the primary knee replacement procedures, the joint surfaces at the end of thigh bone and the top of the shin bone are replaced. Sometimes the under surface of the kneecap (called the patella) is replaced with specialized plastic domes. But this decision is taken by the surgeon after studying individual cases. The orthopaedic surgeon always prefers to retain the natural patella. But if situation warrants then patella is replaced. At times, this decision is made during the surgery also.


Difference between Minimally Invasive Primary Knee Replacement and Conventional Primary Knee Replacement
The incision made in conventional primary knee replacement is between 8 to 10 inches whereas in minimally invasive primary knee replacement, the length of the incision made is between 3 to 4 inches only.
In conventional method the quadriceps muscle on the thigh is generally cut to expose the thigh bone. Whereas in minimally invasive method the muscle is lifted and pushed aside rather than making a cut. The quadriceps muscle is completely preserved in this method. The power in the Quadriceps muscles is the key in recovery after the surgery. Hence patients in the minimally invasive method recover faster.

In conventional method the shin bone is moved from its position (dislocated) vis-a-vis the thigh bone for fitting the prosthetics or implants. In minimally invasive procedure however, the shin bone is not dislocated from its position. This helps in faster recovery, and less pain after surgery.
Similarly in conventional method, the patella or the knee cap is turned 180 degrees to get to the femur and tibia. In minimally invasive procedure however, the patella is just pushed aside. This helps in faster recovery, and less pain after surgery.

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