Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that is not relieved with rest or medications.Moderate to severe pain that occurs during rest or awakens you at night.Severe knee pain which limits your daily activities (such as walking, getting up from a chair or climbing stairs).Your doctor may advise tricompartmental knee replacement if you have: All of these factors can cause pain and restricted range of motion in the joint. In addition, the bones become thicker around the edges of the joint and may form bony вЂњspursвЂќ. In a normal joint, articular cartilage allows for smooth movement within the joint, whereas in an arthritic knee the cartilage itself becomes thinner or completely absent. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of knee arthritis in which the joint cartilage gradually wears away. Tricompartmental knee replacement surgery is commonly indicated for severe osteoarthritis of the knee. Lateral compartment вЂ“ the area on the outside of the knee joint.Medial compartment вЂ“ the compartment on the inside of the knee.Patellofemoral вЂ“ the compartment behind the kneecap.The knee can be divided into three compartments: Arthritis (inflammation of the joints), injury, or other diseases of the joint can damage this protective layer of cartilage, causing extreme pain and difficulty in performing daily activities. The meniscus, the soft cartilage between the femur and tibia, serves as a cushion and helps absorb shock during motion. The knee is made up of the femur (thigh bone), the tibia (shin bone), and patella (kneecap). Tricompartmental knee replacement, also called total knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure in which the worn out or damaged surfaces of the knee joint are removed and replaced with artificial parts. Your final range-of-motion will be close to the range-of-motion that you had before the surgery.Home В» Patient Info В» Knee В» Treatments В» Knee Replacement and Reconstruction В» Tricompartmental Knee Replacement Tricompartmental Knee Replacement This depends on your preoperative range-of-motion. What is the maximum range an artificial knee can achieve? It is from the normal accumulation of blood after your surgery. It is common to have bruising on the skin. You may find it more comfortable in an aisle seat. Be sure to pump your ankles up and down, get up and move around at frequent intervals. May I ride in an airplane before my first postoperative visit? If your right knee is replaced, you should wait for 2 to 4 weeks before driving. However, you must be off all pain medications prior to driving. May I drive or ride in a car before my first postoperative visit? May I go outdoors prior to my first postoperative visit? Usually a cane is used between 2-6 weeks. Remember that if you are using your knee to do things, you are actually doing physical therapy for your knee. Please do exercises as instructed by your surgeon. Yes, it is normal to feel numbness around the incision and outer side of the knee. Is it normal to feel numbness around the knee? To decrease swelling, elevate your leg and apply ice for 20 minutes at a time (3-4 times a day). Is swelling of my knee, leg, foot, and ankle normal? If you are placed on aspirin or low-molecular weight heparin injections, you will not require blood testing. If you are on warfarin, you will need blood work drawn 1 to 2 times a week and your medical consultant will adjust your medication dosage. For other patients, especially those who are unable to take aspirin, low-molecular weight heparin (Lovenox) or warfarin (Coumadin) are used. For most patients, aspirin is prescribed. How long will I remain on anticoagulation (blood thinners that help avoid blood clots)? If staples are used, they are removed 2 weeks after surgery with postoperative follow up typically at 4-6 weeks and 3 months, depending on surgeon preference. Most patients go home the same day, but on occasion, some will stay one night.

Compartments of the knee