Primary Knee Replacement Specialist

When would I need a primary knee replacement?

The team at Alpine Orthopedics and Sports Medicine performs a primary knee replacement, also called total knee arthroplasty, when the joint has extensive damage due to an injury or advanced arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the top reason people decide to have a knee replacement. The need for surgery depends on the severity of your joint degeneration and the impact of knee pain on your ability to stay active. 

What happens during primary knee replacement surgery?

During knee replacement surgery, your provider removes damaged bone and cartilage and implants a prosthetic joint. This process includes three components:

Femoral component

The femoral component refers to the prosthesis that replaces the end of your femur or thigh bone. After removing the damaged tissues, your provider cuts the end of the bone and resurfaces it to fit the prosthesis.

The femoral prosthesis is typically metal that curves over the front and back of your femur. This component recreates the shape of your natural femur, which is important for reproducing normal knee movement.

Tibial component

This part of the prosthesis replaces the top of your tibia or shinbone. Your provider cuts the top of the bone, eliminating damaged structures and creating a surface that supports the metal tibial component.

Once the tibial prosthesis is in place, your provider places a plastic liner on top of the metal. The plastic piece serves the same function as cartilage, allowing all the prosthetic components to glide smoothly.

Patellar component

Your provider at Alpine Orthopedics and Sports Medicine makes sure your patella (kneecap) fits the new prosthetic components. If necessary, they resurface the underside of the patella and implant a plastic liner.

Is primary knee replacement an outpatient procedure?

Yes, you can get a total knee replacement as an outpatient procedure. The team does their outpatient replacement procedures on-site in the Orthopedic Surgical Center of Montana. This fully credentialed surgical center is run by Alpine Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. 

Some insurances or individuals do require an inpatient stay. For those procedures, surgery is done at Bozeman Health.

Your provider uses minimally invasive techniques to perform your outpatient knee replacement. That means your incisions are small, and you sustain minimal trauma. As a result, you have less bleeding and a faster recovery after your new knee joint is in place.

To learn more about primary knee replacement, call Alpine Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, or request an appointment online today.