Knee Replacement

Knee replacement or “arthroplasty” is a surgical procedure where the diseased joint is replaced with artificial material. An arthroplasty can be “total,” where all three compartments of the knee are replaced, or “partial,” where only one is replaced.

Results vary, but the average hospital stay for a knee replacement is 5-7 days. By two weeks postop patients are mobilising using either a stick or a frame, and by six weeks most are walking in the community without any assistance.

Knee arthroplasty is one of the most successful surgical procedures of the modern era. Early postoperative complication rates are less than 1-3%, and the Australian National Joint Replacement Registry reports >90% knee replacements are still functioning after 20 years.