CHICAGO, Ill. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – The knee is the most commonly injured joint, especially in athletes. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, more than two injuries occur per 1,000 people in the United States. Approximately 790,000 knee replacement surgeries are performed in the United States each year. Doctors at Midwest Orthopaedics have developed a minimally invasive total knee replacement procedure that can help patients get back on their feet as quickly as possible.
Whether it’s from playing sports, tripping, or simply getting older, knee injuries are common. Total knee replacement surgery has become a common procedure that relieves chronic knee pain and restores mobility.
“We’re doing the surgeries much better. For example, if you had to have a knee replacement, you had to be out of surgery for months – you come to me, you’re out of the hospital in three hours, you can drive in a week and go back to work if you want,” explained Dr. Richard Berger of Midwest Orthopaedics in Rush.
Total knee replacement surgery, also known as knee arthroplasty or TKA, is a surgical procedure that replaces the damaged or worn surfaces of the knee joint with artificial components, usually made of metal and plastic. The surgery Dr. Berger performed is done through a three- to four-inch incision instead of a large eight- to twelve-inch incision. Ninety-two percent of patients leave the hospital the same day.
“Whether it’s running a marathon, walking around the block or just walking up and down in the evening and doing laundry, patients want to do what they want and I help them achieve that mobility,” said Dr. Berger.
In addition to faster recovery and shorter hospital stay, TKA also increases range of motion more quickly after surgery and there is less blood loss. Despite the numerous benefits of knee replacement surgery, it is important to recognize that it is not suitable for everyone. People who smoke, are obese, or have had any form of severe nerve disease are not good candidates for TKA.
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