Notice
Due to delays at the federal level, UW Health is not yet able to offer the new COVID vaccine. We will provide an update as soon as it becomes available at our clinics.
About
Improve your quality of life, reduce your pain
If you are living with chronic knee pain that isn’t getting better with physical therapy and medications, you may need a knee replacement. Getting knee replacement surgery can improve your quality of life.
How does knee replacement help?
Your knees take a lot of impact from everyday activities. This stress wears down the shock-absorbing cushion that covers each part of your knee.
Knee replacement repairs the rough and bumpy surfaces of a damaged knee. This restores movement and reduces or eliminates your pain.
Who benefits from knee replacement?
Your care team examines your knee and talks with you about your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend total or partial knee replacement surgery if you:
Have severe knee pain that limits your everyday activities
Have moderate to severe knee pain while resting, day or night
Are no longer as mobile as you want to be
Long-lasting knee inflammation and swelling that doesn’t get better with rest or medications.
Have severe osteoarthritis
Overview of knee replacement
Types of knee replacement
Depending on the condition of your knee, our orthopedic surgeons may recommend different knee replacement options. The type of knee replacement surgery recommended for you is based on our main goal of helping relieve your pain so you can get back to a more active lifestyle.
Partial knee replacement
If only a portion of the joint is damaged by arthritis, a partial knee replacement can be an excellent option. The surgeon will make a small incision to get to the damaged compartments of the knee. The areas are replaced with an artificial implant, called a prosthetic. The rest of your knee is preserved. Partial knee replacements are most often done with smaller incisions, so there is less recovery time.
Total knee replacement
Total knee replacement surgery may be recommended if you have severe arthritis or a severe knee injury and have chronic, constant pain, difficulty walking or climbing stairs and pain while resting. During total knee replacement surgery, damaged cartilage is removed, and the end of the thigh bone and the top of the lower leg bone are resurfaced with metal where the two bones join together. A plastic spacer is placed between the metal areas, so you have a smooth gliding surface. This helps you have less pain and improves your ability to walk.
Robotic-assisted total knee replacement
During robotic total knee replacement, surgeons use computed tomography (CT) scans to build a virtual model of your knee. With that model as guide, the surgeon then uses the robotic arm to embed the components of the new knee precisely.
Bilateral knee replacement
A bilateral total knee replacement is an option for people whose cartilage has worn away in both knees. For healthy, active and younger people, with good support at home, a bilateral knee replacement may be a good option.
Same-day total knee replacement
Some patients who have knee replacement surgery can go home the same day of the surgery. This is usually recommended for you if you are in overall good health and have the right support system at home. Same day surgery, also called outpatient surgery, allows you to have the surgery and recover in the comfort of your own home the same day.
Revision knee replacement
Some people may need a second surgery – revision total knee replacement, because of infection, mechanical wear, loosening, prosthetic breakage or instability. In this procedure, surgeons remove some or all the parts of the original knee replacement and replaces them with new ones. Revision surgery is different than a first total knee replacement. It is a longer, more complex procedure.
Treatment process
Preparing for knee replacement surgery
The UW Health joint replacement surgeons and orthopedic team have developed a care plan to guide you through your preparation, hospital stay and recovery from surgery.
Your care team and support person
Our goal is to provide you with the care and support needed to get through your joint replacement and back to the things you love to do. A Total Joints Nurse Coordinator is available to ensure a smooth transition from surgery to recovery. We also encourage you to choose a family member or friend who can act as a personal support person or "coach" as you go through the joint replacement process.
TotalCare for surgery patients
Patients who are scheduled for surgery in Madison have access to this free online educational system that provides you and anyone you designate with information before and after surgery. TotalCare includes checklists and reminders to guide you through the joint replacement process, educational materials, informative videos and patient self-reports that provide your orthopedic team with feedback.
What happened during knee replacement surgery?
Before scheduling your surgery, your knee replacement team determines if you need a partial or total knee replacement. If both of your knees need to be replaced, your care team decides if it’s best to repair both knees at the same time or separately.
During surgery, your doctor:
Removes the damaged parts of the knee
Covers the ends of the shin and thigh bones with plastic and metal parts
Covers the underside of the kneecap with a plastic part
Your new knee parts move together smoothly.
What to expect after surgery
You may spend a night in the hospital or go home the same day as your surgery. Afterward, you can expect to spend at least six weeks in recovery. During this time, you will:
Complete daily physical therapy exercises — Your active participation in a rehabilitation program is a major factor in the success of your surgery. You will need to perform exercises to restore movement in the knee joint and strengthen the surrounding muscles.
Return to driving after three weeks
Start to perform your normal daily activities on your own
It may take six months to a year before you fully recover.
More videos
Locations
Care that's convenient
East Madison Hospital Orthopedic Joint Reconstruction and Replacement Clinic
Science Dr Medical Center Orthopedic Surgery Clinic
1 S Park St Medical Center Orthopedic Joint Reconstruction and Replacement Clinic
1340 Charles St Clinic Orthopedics Clinic
Meet our team
Leaders in innovation and research
Scott Anderson, MD
Orthopedic SurgeryOscar Anton, MD, FAAOS
Orthopedic SurgeryAndrew Blint, MD
Orthopedic SurgeryErik Bonifas, PA
Orthopedic SurgeryJacquelyn Dunahoe, MD
Orthopedic SurgeryNicole Fletchall, PA
Orthopedic Surgery
Displaying 6 of 19
Patient stories
Hear how knee replacement helped our patients
Orthopedics and rehabilitation medicineAfter two knee surgeries, Galen is loving life
Galen Bertram knew that knee replacement surgery was looming, but like many people with increasingly arthritic knees, he put it off as long as he could.
Orthopedics and rehabilitation medicinePartial knee replacement gets Dr. Kunstman up and running again
Dr. Dave Kunstman is a busy guy. A Family Medicine doctor who also serves as the interim Chief Medical Officer for UW Health, Dr. Kuntman cherishes physical activity as a way to stay healthy while clearing his mind.
Orthopedics and rehabilitation medicineKnee replacement surgery helped Lisa get back to being active
Lisa Steinkamp has a simple message for people about getting a knee replacement — especially active people like herself.
Orthopedics and rehabilitation medicineKnee replacement surgery helps Greg enjoy life again
By the time Greg Converse reached his late 50s, his active lifestyle – which included many bicycle rides, daily 5-mile runs and a vigorous weightlifting regimen -- had taken a hefty toll on Greg’s knees.
Orthopedics and Rehabilitation MedicineSusan comes full-circle for her knee replacement at UW Health
Since she was a little girl, Susan Cowles had good reason to suspect that her knees might one day need medical attention. She was grateful for seven pain-free decades, but by her early 70s, a knee replacement became imminent.
Knee replacementMary Lou Madden's knee replacement story
Mary Lou Madden has a positive outlook on life. She has had two knee replacements and recently underwent knee revision surgery with Dr.John K. Wollaeger. Her advice to anyone who needs a joint replacement—don’t wait. She shares her story to encourage others.
Getting you back to the activities you enjoy
Joint pain, a broken bone or other conditions that affect how your body moves can sideline you from the activities you enjoy. Our orthopedic specialists can treat your orthopedic needs.
Learn more