Child Health Library

Healthwise

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Knee replacement surgery

Normal knee joint

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slide 1 of 6, Normal knee joint,

Inside a normal knee joint, thick cushioning (cartilage) covers and protects the ends of your bones. This is called hyaline cartilage. Another type of cartilage, called meniscal cartilage or meniscus, acts like a shock absorber between the bones and keeps the knee joint stable by spreading out the load evenly across the joint. The two menisci (plural of meniscus) protect and cushion the surface of the joint and the ends of your bones.

Osteoarthritis of the knee

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slide 2 of 6, Osteoarthritis of the knee,

In osteoarthritis, the cartilage that protects and cushions the knee joint breaks down over time. As the cartilage wears down, the bone surfaces rub against each other. This damages the tissue and bone, causing pain. Osteoarthritis is common in the knee joints.

Femoral component is placed

Knee replacement surgery: Femoral component

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slide 3 of 6, Femoral component is placed,

Removal of damaged cartilage and bone from the lower end of the femur and placement of the femoral component

Tibial component is placed

Knee replacement surgery: Tibial component

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slide 4 of 6, Tibial component is placed,

Removal of damaged cartilage and bone from the upper end of the tibia and placement of the tibial component

Patellar component is placed

Knee replacement surgery: Patellar component

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slide 5 of 6, Patellar component is placed,

Removal of damaged cartilage and bone from the patella and placement of the patellar component

Knee replacement surgery is complete

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slide 6 of 6, Knee replacement surgery is complete,

Completed knee replacement

Current as of: July 24, 2025

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Current as of: July 24, 2025

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.