James B. Kyle MD

Knee Replacement Surgery

Total knee replacement surgery is considered one of the most successful procedures in all of medicine. Total knee replacement is a common orthopaedic procedure used to replace a person’s damaged or worn surface of the knee. Once replaced with a prosthesis, known as an “implant,” it will enable you to live a more active life free of chronic knee pain.

In a total knee replacement procedure, Dr. Kyle will make a vertical incision over the front of your knee and expose that joint. At this point, the damaged cartilage is removed and replaced with metal components to replicate the surface of your joint. Finally, a plastic spacer is inserted between the metal components to create that smooth gliding surface your joints should have.

Partial Knee Replacement

Much like total knee replacement, partial knee replacement repairs your knee, but is performed when only a portion of your knee is damaged. Partial knee replacement, also known as unicompartmental knee replacement, involves a small incision focusing only on the area of the knee which needs resurfacing.

There are three components to your knee: medial, lateral, and patellofemoral. With a partial knee replacement, Dr. Kyle focuses on the one component that is damaged and replaces it with metal and plastic. All your healthy cartilage and bone, along with all your ligaments, remain.