has failed to improve with conservative treatment options. Knee replacement surgery is an option for patients with knee pain due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid or other inflammatory arthritis or for arthritis that develops after an injury. It is considered after failure of non-surgical treatment options such as medications and weight loss have failed to decrease the severity of a persons knee pain.
Over 600,000 knee replacement surgeries are performed each year allowing patients with arthritic knee pain to get back to enjoying their normal, everyday activities. More than 90% of patients who have a knee replacement experience a dramatic decrease in knee pain and significant improvement in their ability to perform their common activities of daily living.
With normal use and activity knee replacements can last for many years. Normal activities for patients with knee replacements include walking, swimming, golfing, light hiking, biking, ballroom dancing and star climbing.
There are many alternatives to surgery and most people with knee pain can be successfully treated without surgery. Alternatives to knee replacement include: weight loss, low impact aerobic exercise and activity modifications. Medications such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen, and injections including corticosteriod and hyaluronic acid injections.
Dr. Grutter has uses an approach to knee replacement surgery that does not cut into the quad muscles like older, traditional approaches. This is called a sub-vastus approach. The goal of this technique is to minimize pain and shorten recovery. He also maximizes knee mobility using computer navigation to place the implants or to create custom implants using 3D modeling of each individual patient’s knee. Using these techniques Dr. Grutter performs outpatient knee replacement surgery or with a one night hospital stay. The procedure itself takes 1-2 hours. During the surgery the painful, arthritic areas of bone are removed. The joint surfaces are then replaced with metal and plastic restoring the normal alignment and function of the knee.
Whether joint replacement is done as an outpatient procedure or with a short hospital stay, we can usually perform a surgery with fewer complications, lower out-of-pocket costs and better outcomes. In fact, many joint replacement surgeries we perform can now be done in the morning and the patient can start recovery at home the same day!
Knee replacement is a surgical procedure with potential complications. The risks of joint replacement surgery including but not limited to: periprosthetic infection, periprosthetic fracture, implant loosening and wear, need for revision surgery, incomplete relief of pain, incomplete return of function, nerve or vascular injury, joint stiffness or instability, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, tendon rupture, and the risks of anesthesia including heart attack, stroke and death. Serious complications occur in fewer than 2% of patients.
Dr. Grutter is highly trained and well experienced in performing knee replacement surgery. Appointments are available to discuss knee replacement surgery and determine if knee replacement or non-operative measures are the best treatment for you.
Please read this information carefully. Write down any questions that you have about your diagnosis and its treatment and discuss them with your surgeon. Working together you and Dr. Grutter can determine the best treatment for you.
Appointments to discuss Total Knee Replacement with Dr. Grutter can be made here.
Dr. Grutter's has offices in Hendersonville, Nashville, and Gallatin, Tennessee. Directions to our offices in the Nashville, Tennessee area can be located here. Please contact our office if you are from outside the Nashville, Tennessee area and would like assistance in arranging lodging or transportation for a consultation.