What Happens During Knee Replacement Surgery?

Once you’re anesthetized, your knee is bent and the surgeon makes an incision in the middle of the knee, curving it around the tendon. The surgeon then:

• Trims and shapes the end of the thigh bone and inserts the femoral prosthesis

• Trims and shapes the upper end of the shinbone and inserts the tibial prosthesis and a plastic liner

• Straightens your leg and balances the knee

Shaving down the back of the back of the patella and cement on a plastic patella button may also be necessary. Then the incision is closed and a dressing is applied.

For more details, watch this video.

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