Comprehensive Care for Your Knee Replacement Procedure
If knee pain is keeping you from the activities you love, Riverside’s total joint orthopedic team is here to help you find relief. Our fellowship-trained surgeons and specialized care team offer advanced total and partial knee replacement solutions with excellent success rates, designed to restore your mobility and ease your pain. From your first consultation and pre-surgical clearance to surgery, physical therapy, and full recovery, you’ll have the support of a connected care team. At Riverside, we treat you like family, combining expertise, compassion and seamless teamwork to help you get back to moving with confidence.
Understanding the Anatomy of the Knee
Your knee is a complex hinge joint made up of three bones: the thigh bone (femur), the shin bone (tibia) and the kneecap (patella). Smooth cartilage coats the ends of these bones, acting like a cushion so that bending, walking and turning happen without pain. Strong ligaments, tendons and muscles keep everything stable, helping you move in daily life.
What is Knee Replacement Surgery?
Knee replacement may be recommended when arthritis or injury causes severe pain, stiffness and loss of function of the knee joint. Common causes may include osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis or damage limited to the whole or to one part of the knee.
Two main types exist:
- Total Knee Replacement (TKR): Surgeons remove both worn cartilage and damaged bone surfaces in the knee (all the major compartments) and replace them with artificial components made of metal and plastic. This is often chosen when arthritis or injury affects most of the joint.
- Partial Knee Replacement (Unicompartmental Knee Replacement): This is more targeted. Only the damaged section or “compartment” of the knee is replaced—leaving the healthy parts intact. Because less bone and tissue are disturbed, recovery tends to be quicker and the knee may feel more natural. But it only works well if the damage is isolated to one part of the knee.
Knee replacement may be recommended when arthritis or injury causes severe pain, stiffness and loss of function. Common reasons include osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, or damage limited to one part of the knee where a partial replacement may be appropriate.
Total and Partial Knee Replacements Explained
Dr. Daniel Valaik, Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at Riverside, discusses the team approach that the total joint team takes to ensure patients receive comprehensive care before, during and after their procedure. To learn more about Dr. Valaik or to schedule your appointment with a Riverside orthopedic specialist visit riversideonline.com/schedule or call 757-534-9988.
Partial Knee Replacement Surgery
Still Have Questions About Knee Replacement Surgery?
Our team of total joint specialists can help! Call us at (757) 534-9988 for additional information or to schedule your appointment today.