Knee Replacement Surgery
Knee Replacement Surgery at UVM Health
Severe damage to the tissues in your knee can cause pain, stiffness and limited range of motion. It can also keep you from participating in routine tasks and your favorite hobbies. When other treatments don’t bring the relief you need, a knee replacement can get you back to the activities you love again, without pain.
At University of Vermont Health, your care is in the hands of experienced, specialized knee surgeons performing knee replacements, complex surgeries and Mako robotic arm-assisted procedures.
Why Choose UVM Health?
Trust your knee replacement surgery to some of the top orthopedic experts in Vermont and northern New York. As one of the leading orthopedic programs in the region, we offer:
- Expert surgical care: Our care team includes fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons specializing in the entire spectrum of knee replacement procedures, including revision surgeries to treat failing or infected implants. Robotic techniques allow your surgeon to operate with exceptional precision and accuracy. We also use CT scans to help us plan your surgery.
- Skills and experience: Our surgeons each perform more than 150 knee replacements a year. These high volumes position us among the most experienced teams in the region and mean that your surgery is in the hands of an expert with significant expertise and skill in the procedure.
- Research emphasis: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physicians are active researchers, many of whom are training the next generation of experts. Our involvement in knee care research allows us to always bring you the most up-to-date treatments.
Conditions We Treat
Most often, a knee replacement treats severe osteoarthritis, which occurs when the protective tissue (cartilage) around your knee wears down. Osteoarthritis typically occurs in people over 50 and leads to progressive damage over time. Less frequently, surgeons may recommend knee replacement after a severe or complex fracture or traumatic injury.
Robotic Orthopedic Surgery
Robotic-assisted surgery offers exceptional precision and control, leading to more accurate procedures that preserve healthy tissue, prevent blood loss and help you recover faster.
Types of Knee Replacements
Our surgeons use advanced techniques to offer every type of knee replacement procedure. The type of knee replacement you need depends on several factors, including your age and the extent of your knee damage. In general, there are two main types of knee replacements:
- Partial knee replacement: The surgeon preserves healthy tissue and replaces only one section (compartment) of your knee.
- Total knee replacement: Your surgeon removes damaged bone and tissue in your entire knee and implants replacement parts in the joint.
What to Expect During Knee Replacement Surgery
Our nurse educators will spend time with you before surgery to explain the procedure. They will tell you how to prepare, what will happen on the day of surgery and what to expect during recovery.
Before your surgery, you will receive an analgesia block, a numbing medication injected around your knee that helps limit pain after the procedure. You may also receive general anesthesia, which puts you in a sleep-like state.
During knee replacement surgery, your surgeon:
- Makes an incision (cut) over your knee
- Removes damaged or deteriorated tissue and bone
- Places an artificial implant into your knee joint
You can usually return home the same day as your knee replacement, but you may need to spend one night in the hospital for monitoring. A physical therapist will help you walk and move around before you return home. You will continue physical therapy for about three months after surgery to improve your knee strength, stability and range of motion.
I had an excellent experience. The doctor took a great deal of time listening to me and explaining the details of my treatment plan, risks, possible outcomes. He answered my husband's questions, too.
Awards & Certifications
Healthgrades
Healthgrades, a prominent online resource for consumers seeking information about doctors and hospitals, has named University of Vermont Medical Center among the top 10 percent in the U.S. for outpatient orthopedic surgery and recognized the academic medical center with its prestigious Outpatient Joint Replacement Excellence Award.
Locations near you
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75 Park Street
Elizabethtown, VT 12932
187 Park Street
Suite 2
Malone, NY 12953-1233
6 San Remo Drive
South Burlington, VT 05403-6378
192 Tilley Drive
South Burlington, VT 05403-4440
1311 Barre Montpelier Road
Suite 400
Berlin, VT 05602
1436 Exchange Street
Middlebury, VT 05753-1185
76 McNeil Road
Suite 2
Waterbury Center, VT 05677-7162
206 Cornelia Street
Suite 201
Plattsburgh, NY 12901-2779
