Total knee replacement removes damaged cartilage and bone from the knee and resurfaces the joint with metal and plastic components. The goal is to reduce arthritic pain, improve function, and create a knee that is stable for daily life.
Total knee replacement, also called total knee arthroplasty, replaces the damaged bearing surfaces of the knee. The end of the thighbone, top of the shinbone, and sometimes the kneecap surface are prepared for implants.
The surgery is usually considered when knee arthritis causes pain, stiffness, deformity, or loss of function that no longer responds well enough to nonsurgical care.
Some patients need total knee replacement, while selected patients may be candidates for partial knee replacement.
Mechanical and kinematic alignment strategies can both be appropriate. The decision depends on anatomy and surgeon judgment.
Safe recovery depends on pain control, early walking, range of motion, home support, and a clear physical therapy plan.
Symptoms, exam, X-rays, and deformity are reviewed.
The surgeon explains whether nonsurgical options still make sense.
The plan addresses joint line, ligament balance, and implant position.
Discharge, therapy, medication, and home safety are planned early.
Total knee replacement is usually considered when arthritis causes persistent pain, swelling, stiffness, deformity, or loss of function that no longer responds well enough to activity changes, medications, injections, bracing, therapy, or time.
The decision should match the patient's story, exam, X-rays, deformity, and goals. Some patients are better candidates for partial knee replacement, while others need total knee replacement because arthritis involves more than one compartment or ligament balance is unreliable.
Surgeons evaluate which compartments are damaged, whether the kneecap is involved, and whether deformity or stiffness changes the plan.
Mechanical, kinematic, or other alignment choices should be tied to ligament balance, joint line, implant position, and patient anatomy.
Walking, swelling control, range of motion, strength, pain management, and home support are planned before surgery.
It may be time when knee pain limits walking, stairs, sleep, work, or activities despite reasonable nonsurgical care.
It is a patient-specific alignment strategy that may be considered when restoring native knee geometry is safe for the patient's anatomy.
Many patients walk the day of surgery with assistance, but the pace depends on health, pain control, strength, and surgeon guidance.
Most patients need a structured recovery plan focused on walking, swelling control, strength, and range of motion.
Procedure pages help patients understand the option. Scheduling helps turn that into a visit with the right TJS specialist, office, and appointment type based on symptoms, imaging, prior treatment, and recovery goals.
This page was reviewed by Total Joint Specialists clinical leadership on May 11, 2026. It is reviewed at least annually and whenever major clinical guidance, source references, or practice facts change.
The content is educational, cites orthopedic society or peer-reviewed sources where relevant, and is not a substitute for an evaluation with an orthopedic surgeon who has reviewed your individual case.
Patient education references used for this page: AAOS Total Knee Replacement, AAHKS Total Knee Replacement, and peer-reviewed review/meta-analysis on kinematic vs. mechanical alignment patient-reported outcomes.
A TJS knee replacement specialist can review your symptoms, alignment, X-rays, and goals and explain your options.
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