Knee Surgery Procedure

In total knee replacement surgery, the damaged bone surfaces and cartilage are removed and replaced with artificial surfaces made of metal and a plastic material. These surfaces are called “implants” or “prostheses” and restore the alignment and function of your knee.

Typically, a total knee replacement takes about two hours.

You will be admitted to the hospital on the day of your scheduled surgery. You will be asked to arrive to the hospital two hours before the start of your surgery. After admission, you will move into the pre-operative area where you will be evaluated by an anesthesiologist. The most common type of anesthesia is general, in which you are given anesthesia through an intravenous (IV) drip that keeps you asleep for the entire surgery. Your anesthesiologist also may offer you an epidural or spinal injection or a combination of the above. You will discuss this with your anesthesiologist prior to your surgery.