Knee replacement is surgery for patients with severe knee damage. Arthritis, or inflammation of the joint, causes the surface to become rough. This results in severe pain and even inability to walk. Arthritis may be caused by injury or as a result of osteoarthritis.  Knee replacement can relieve pain and allow you to be more active.

In the case of total knee replacement, damaged cartilage and bone from the surface of your knee joint is removed and then replaced with a man-made surface of metal and plastic. In a partial knee replacement, the surgeon only replaces one part of your knee joint. Some hospitals perform new technique for knee replacement, called mini-incision surgery (MIS). In this technique the size of the incision that needs to be made in the knee is reduced to 10-12cm, rather than the usual 20-30cm. In this technique less tissue gets damaged during the surgery.

Half-knee replacement is possible when only one side of a knee is affected. This is a more minor procedure than a total knee replacement and so should mean a quicker recovery period.

 Knee replacement may be considered for adults of all ages. Knee replacement surgery is usually performed either under general anaesthetic or under spinal or epidural anaesthetic.

The initial pain of the surgery usually improves within a week to ten days. After several weeks this pain almost completely disappears.

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