JOINT REPLACEMENT: KNEE TEP

OSTEOARTHRITIS KNEE

ALL IMAGES Courtesy of Zimmer Biomet and Smith & Nephew

The knee joint is often depicted as a simple hinge joint, but upon closer inspection, it is an extremely complex joint with a rotational sliding mechanism and many important ligaments. TREATMENT SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT ACCORDINGLY BY A KNEE SPECIALIST.

DUE TO THE HIGH stresses to which the knee joints are exposed, wear and tear phenomena occur very frequently in the course of life, resulting in significant complaints and limitations in quality of life. Early sports injuries, malalignments, or overweight significantly favor this development.

Unlike the hip joint, a so-called ball-and-socket joint, in which the entire joint is always affected, only individual compartments (e.g. on the inside or behind the kneecap) can be treated at the knee joint.

IN THE CONTEXT OF THE THERAPY OF KNEE JOINT OSTEOARTHRITIS (OSTEOARTHRITIS KNEE), IN ADDITION TO CONSERVATIVE MEASURES, SURGICAL INTERVENTIONS MAY ALSO BECOME NECESSARY:

JOINT-PRESERVING SURGERY ON THE KNEE JOINT (CORRECTION OF MISALIGNMENTS AND ANATOMICAL VARIANTS MOSTLY BY MEANS OF MINIMALLY INVASIVE JOINT REFLECTION (ARTHROSCOPY), PARTLY ALSO BY MEANS OF JOINT OPENING (MINI-OPEN).
ENDOPROTHETIC SURGERY ON THE KNEE JOINT (REPLACEMENT OF THE DESTROYED JOINT PARTS WITH ARTIFICIAL IMPLANTS MADE OF METAL AND HIGHLY CROSS-LINKED PLASTIC).

We distinguish between total knee replacements and partial knee replacements for artificial knee joints. I carefully determine which prosthesis is suitable for you beforehand based on the clinical examination, as well as X-rays or MRI scans.

The artificial joint replacement is a very successful and reliable treatment option in the advanced stage of osteoarthritis.

cemented or cement-free partial joint replacement using sledge prostheses (inner or outer)
Cemented partial joint replacement using PFJ or Wave prosthesis (patellar surface replacement)
cemented total surface replacement (Classically: the "knee prosthesis")
EXTRA stabilizing implants or hinged prostheses
INLAYS as meniscus replacement made of highly cross-linked polyethylene

Professional Knee Replacement in Mainz: Your Expert for Artificial Knee Joints

Advanced osteoarthritis of the knee joint can lead to significant pain and a severe impairment of quality of life. If conservative treatment methods such as physiotherapy or medication therapies are no longer sufficient, a knee replacement (total endoprosthesis) represents a proven and effective solution to restore your mobility and freedom from pain. At ENDOPROTHETICUM Rhein-Main, Prof. Dr. med. Karl Philipp Kutzner is your highly specialized contact person for the use of an artificial knee joint

What is a total knee replacement and when is it necessary?

A total knee arthroplasty, or TKA for short, is a surgical procedure in which the worn surfaces of the knee joint are replaced with high-quality implants made of metal and plastic. This joint replacement mimics the natural function of the knee and enables a smooth and pain-free movement. Such an intervention is usually recommended when the articular cartilage is severely damaged by osteoarthritis (gonarthrosis), causing the patient to suffer from persistent pain, limited mobility, and a loss of quality of life.

Reasons for an artificial knee joint

Severe, persistent knee pain, even at rest
Significant limitation of walking distance and everyday activities
Malalignment of the leg, such as bowlegs or knock knees
Failure of conservative therapy measures
Advanced radiologically confirmed joint degeneration

Your specialist for knee replacement in the Rhine-Main region

The decision to have an artificial knee joint is a significant step. It is all the more important to put yourself in the hands of an experienced surgeon. Prof. Dr. Kutzner is a proven specialist in the field of endoprosthetics and has many years of experience in the implantation of knee prostheses. In his practice in Mainz, the latest surgical techniques and proven implants are used to achieve the best possible result for each patient.

The treatment plan is tailored to your individual needs. From comprehensive diagnostics to precise surgical planning and careful implementation of the knee replacement and subsequent follow-up care – at ENDOPROTHETICUM Rhein-Main, you are in good hands throughout every phase.

Our performance promise for your new knee joint

Comprehensive advice: We take the time to answer your questions and explain the procedure in detail.
Individual planning: Selection of the optimal prosthesis type based on your anatomy and activity level.
Precise operation: Use of minimally invasive techniques to spare muscles and tissue.
Rapid recovery: A structured rehabilitation plan supports your quick return to everyday life.

Contact us for a consultation

If you suffer from knee complaints and want to know more about the possibilities of a knee TEP or an artificial knee joint , please make an appointment. Prof. Dr. Kutzner and his team at ENDOPROTHETICUM Rhein-Main in Mainz are looking forward to helping you overcome your pain and gain new quality of life.

During the operation, access to the knee joint is from the front and the knee is bent and stretched multiple times during the procedure. The outer and inner ligaments and partially also the cruciate ligaments are carefully protected during the operation.

To minimize post-operative pain, pain medication is administered via injections during the operation (LIA = local infiltration anesthesia).

KNEe PROSTHESIS IN MAINZ AND WIESBADEN AT ENDOPROTHETICUM

SLIDEPROSTHESIS

The partial joint replacement on the knee joint is possible in all areas of the joint, but is most frequently performed on the inner side of the knee joint and is often referred to as a slide prosthesis in common parlance. Similar to the total prosthesis, the defective cartilage is replaced by a new surface and a plastic inlay is inserted in between. For a partial prosthesis, all ligament structures, especially the cruciate ligaments, must be largely intact.

SURFACE REPLACEMENT

KNE REPLACEMENT (ARTIFICIAL KNEE JOINT)

The artificial knee joint replaces the cartilage surface destroyed by osteoarthritis. The underlying bone on the thigh and tibial head remains intact. Some compare a modern artificial knee joint to a crown on a tooth, the exact term is the so-called bicompartmental surface replacement. Between the new surfaces on the upper and lower leg is the so-called inlay made of a specially hardened white plastic, which is visible on X-ray as a distance between the metal parts.

SMALL IMPLANTS / KNEECAP JOINT REPLACEMENT

The kneecap (patella) runs as an isolated bone in a groove of the femur and represents one of three compartments of the knee joint as the femoropatellar joint.

It is fixed with tendons and ligaments and enables active extension of the knee joint.

Impaired mobility or instability, as well as the shape of the kneecap (dysplasia), can lead to cartilage damage and osteoarthritis ISOLATED IN the patellofemoral joint. IF THE OTHER COMPARTMENTS ARE FREE OF ARTHROSIS, there is the possibility of an isolated partial knee replacement of the patellofemoral joint.