Knee Replacement

Knee replacement surgery, also called knee arthroplasty, may be an option when parts of your knee joint are injured or worn out because of arthritis or other problems. The surgery may lessen the pain and movement problems that come with a damaged joint.

Often, treatments that are less invasive than surgery, such as joint preservation, are provided first. Typically, surgery is considered when other treatments don’t provide adequate relief. Your doctor can help you decide when and which surgery is right for you.

Total Knee Replacement

Total knee replacement involves replacing the ends of your thigh bone (femur) and upper shin bone (tibia) with metal pieces. A plastic insert is placed between these pieces. Surgeons also place a similar piece of plastic on the back of your knee cap. Together, these components allow for more fluid knee movement.

Partial Knee Replacement

Partial knee replacement is an alternative to total knee replacement. It may be an option if you have arthritis that’s confined to just one part of your knee:

• The lateral compartment (the outside of the knee)
• The medial compartment (the inside of the knee)
• The patellofemoral compartment (the front of the knee between your kneecap and femur)

Top-Line Technology

At New England Baptist Hospital, we offer the latest surgical technology, including surgical robots. Our robotic systems may, in some cases, help your surgeon optimally plan your operation and complete it with remarkable precision.

It’s important to realize that robots don’t perform your procedure. Your surgeon remains in control throughout your operation. Talk with your surgeon about whether a robotic procedure is right for you.

If you and your doctor decide knee replacement is right for you, we give you the tools you need to prepare.

We teach you what to expect before surgery and how to plan your care, whether you’ll be spending the night in the hospital or having an outpatient procedure.

You are strongly encouraged to take our free, one-time virtual class. It helps you learn what to expect with your surgery, something that can a long way toward giving you peace of mind. The class offers important tips on getting ready for surgery, preparing your home for your return and more. It’s all intended to help you get the best results. Because the help and support of family members or others is vital to your recovery, family members or caregivers are encouraged to participate in the class, as well.

Additional pre-surgical education may answer other questions you have. This information is available in English and Spanish. We provide details on pre-surgery exercises to help your recovery go smoothly, as well.

We teach you what expect after surgery and offer rehabilitation to help you get stronger and manage daily activities as you recover. Specific exercises for your knee will be important for your recovery as well.

Your team at New England Baptist Hospital is ready to guide you through the treatment and recovery process. You are the center of that team. By taking an active role in your care, you can have a more satisfying experience and achieve better results.

This video series will prepare you for your knee replacement. We’ll give you a glimpse of the process ahead, and provide you with important details to make your surgical experience as comfortable as possible. From pre-screening and preparation, through your surgery day, hospital stay, and recovery, we want you, and those around you, to feel confident in the process and be prepared for what lies ahead.

• Welcome To New England Baptist Hospital (Video)
• Preparing for Your Surgery: A To-Do List (PDF)
• Shared Decision Making at NEBH (PDF)
• Smoking and Surgery: Recommendations to Reduce Complications (PDF)
• Alcohol and Surgery (PDF)
• Your Knee Replacement (Video)
• Nutrition Recommendations for Before and After Surgery (PDF)
• Physical Therapy Exercises (PDF)
• What to Bring to Your Appointment (PDF)
• Your Surgery Day (Video)
• What to Bring to the Hospital (PDF)
• General Anesthesia (PDF)
• Spinal Anesthesia (PDF)
• Care Transitions (PDF)
• Your Hospital Recovery (Video)
• Managing Your Pain (PDF)
• Preventing Falls (PDF)
• Leaving NEBH and Heading Home (Video)
• Airport Travel (PDF)
• Caring for Your Surgical Incision (PDF)
• Caring for Your Surgical Incision During the Summer (PDF)
• Preparing Your Home (PDF)
• Safe Disposal of Your Prescription Medication (PDF)
• When to Call Your Surgeon (PDF)

Usted y su cirujano han decidido que es momento de someterse a una cirugía, y debe sentirse seguro al saber que ha elegido uno de los mejores hospitales del país para su atención ortopédica. Esta serie de videos lo/a preparará para su próxima operación, le dará una idea del proceso por delantado y le brindará detalles importantes para que su experiencia quirúrgica sea lo más cómoda posible.

**Esta serie de videos se filmó antes del COVID-19. Algunas cosas hoy, pueden verse diferentes a como se muestra en los videos. Le sugerimos a usted y a su acompañante que vean los videos, ya que contienen información importante y útil sobre su cirugía.

• Bienvenido a New England Baptist Hospital (Vídeo)
  (Welcome To New England Baptist Hospital)
• Preparación para la Cirugía: Su Listado de Tareas (PDF)
  (Preparing for Your Surgery: A To-Do List)
• Fumadores y Cirugías Recomendaciones para reducir las complicaciones (PDF)
  (Smoking and Surgery: Recommendations to Reduce Complications)
• Alcohol y Cirugía (PDF)
  (Alcohol and Surgery)
• Reemplazo de su rodilla (Vídeo)
  (Your Knee Replacement)
• Nutrición Peri-operatoria (PDF)
  (Nutrition Recommendations for Before and After Surgery)
• Ejercicios Pre-Quirúrgicos (PDF)
  (Physical Therapy Exercises)
• Preparación para su visita de chequeo previo al ingreso (PDF)
  (What to Bring to Your Appointment)
• Su dia de cirugia (Vídeo)
  (Your Surgery Day)
• Qué traer al Hospital (PDF)
  (What to Bring to the Hospital)
• Anestesia General: Qué Debe Saber (PDF)
  (General Anesthesia)
• Anestesia Espinal: Qué Debe Saber (PDF)
  (Spinal Anesthesia)
• Gestión de casos y cómo podemos brindarle asistencia (PDF)
  (Case Management)
• Su recuperacion hospitalaria (Vídeo)
  (Your Hospital Recovery)
• Tratamiento del Dolor (PDF)
  (Managing Your Pain)
• Riesgo de Caídas (PDF)
  (Preventing Falls)
• Dejar el New England Baptist Hospital e ir a casa (Vídeo)
  (Leaving NEBH and Heading Home)
• Viajar en Avión (PDF)
  (Airport Travel)
• Cuidados de su Incisión Quirúrgica (PDF)
  (Caring for Your Surgical Incision)
• Preparar el Hogar (PDF)
  (Preparing Your Home)
• Desechar de Manera Segura los Medicamentos Recetados (PDF)
  (Safe Disposal of Your Prescription Medication)
• Cuándo llamar al Cirujano (PDF)
  (When to Call Your Surgeon)

These videos are for surgical patients of New England Baptist Hospital. They are intended to assist with prescribed post-surgery rehabilitation. When watching, pause the video where appropriate to do the exercises. Your rehabilitation plan has been customized for you so it may vary from the content of these videos. Please follow the instructions you received at discharge.

Should you have questions, contact the Rehabilitation Office at 617-754-5500 or your care team.

Physical Therapy Exercises

• Supine Position Exercises
  (lying horizontally with the face and torso facing up)
• Seated Exercises
• Standing Exercises

Stairs

• Stairs with Cane and Rail
• Stairs with Two Crutches
• Stairs with One Crutch and One Rail

Activities of Daily Living

• Using Assistive Devices (ADL Tools)
• Taking a Shower in a Walk-in Shower Stall
• Taking a Shower in a Tub
• Using the Toilet