Total Knee Replacement
Total knee replacement surgery involves removing the diseased portion of the knee joint and resurfacing the ends of the bones with the new prosthesis. Your knee is not actually “cut out” but rather the ends of the bones are resurfaced. There are four parts to a knee prosthesis: the femoral part caps the end of the thigh bone, the tibial part caps the top of the shin bone, a bearing surface sits between these two components and another bearing surface sits underneath the kneecap. These come in different sizes, so Dr. Kolisek can custom fit your knee in the operating room. These implants allow for a very active lifestyle and are often still functioning well, more than 15 years after surgery.
Download Total Knee Replacement Handout
Partial Knee Replacement
There are three compartments in a knee joint: a medial and lateral compartment between the ends of the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone) and a third compartment behind your kneecap. If only one of the three compartments in the knee joint is causing pain from arthritis, then Dr. Kolisek can resurface only that compartment, leaving the other two healthy compartments alone. This is called a partial knee replacement or resurfacing.
Download Partial Knee Replacement Handout
Muscle Sparing Knee Approach
Dr. Kolisek specializes in the muscle sparing knee approach. The approach takes less time, less blood loss and fewer complications. Over half of all of Dr. Kolisek's patients are able to go home the day after surgery and recover quickly.