Walking, running, playing tennis, swimming, dancing, and stair climbing. These are just a handful of activities you ask your knees to be ready for throughout your lifetime. As your body’s largest and most complex joints, they’re also some of the hardest working. It makes sense, then, that they’re more prone to degeneration from wear-and-tear than others.
When conservative treatments no longer successfully address knee pain, inflammation, and other issues, knee replacement is the standard recommendation. Though it certainly isn’t nothing, knee replacement has come a long way, thanks to the materials used, improved surgical techniques, and the ability to create completely customized knee components.
This is reflected by the fact that almost 800,000 replacements are done in the United States annually. It’s also no longer a procedure reserved for older individuals, as more and more middle-aged patients are opting for the surgery.
Dr. Struan Coleman has extensive experience perfecting knee replacement, thanks to his years of working with professional athletes, along with weekend warriors. He and his team are ready to provide you with the best treatment before, during, and after your knee replacement procedure, as well as a range of other services.
First, don’t panic. You’re in the best hands with Dr. Coleman. Whether he advises you to get knee arthroscopy because of pain that keeps you awake at night, cartilage deterioration (which doesn’t get corrected naturally), or another reason, you need to know what it involves.
Before you have your surgery, Dr. Coleman must determine which part of your knee has deteriorated and its level of severity. He evaluates the:
He only recommends that parts of your knee be replaced if they’re severely compromised. Otherwise, they’ll be preserved.
The replacement surgery involves Dr. Coleman removing damaged bone and cartilage, implanting your replacement components precisely, and placing plastic pieces between the metal replacement components that allows them to glide comfortably when you move.
After Dr. Coleman assesses your knee, the artificial components that will be part of your new knee are produced to match your own knee’s shape and size precisely, thanks to the use of computerized tomography, or a CT scan.
The scan produces a highly detailed image of your knee so exact measurements can be taken that will drive the design details of your new knee components. They’re made from metal alloys, plastic, or ceramic material.
Dr. Coleman also considers what each patient typically demands of their knee in terms of use and lifestyle. It’s critical to have new knee parts that fit together perfectly, because when they don’t, you remain in pain.
The advantages of customized knee replacement are undeniable. Your new joint components are exact matches to your natural knee’s, there’s no distortion to your knee’s shape, and, often, Dr. Coleman needs to perform less bone cutting during surgery. Additionally, this customizing ability allows for shorter surgeries and reduced disruption of tissue.
With more accurate positioning of your replacement implants, your new knee is likely to last longer, allowing you even more freedom from pain and a greater range of movement.
If your knee pain has become unbearable and chronic, call our central scheduling number, 212-606-1095, to set up a consultation with Dr. Coleman, no matter which of our three offices is most convenient for you. With customized knee replacement, you can look forward to returning to your old life again, liberated from discomfort.
