Every total knee replacement implant and many total hip replacement implants utilize ultra high molecular weight polyethylene uhmwpe a plastic in their components in knee implants the tibial component is a flat metal platform with a polyethylene cushion and the patellar component if used is a dome shaped piece of polyethylene.
Plastic knee cap surgery.
Total knee replacement surgery is very successful with about 90 of implant recipients reporting good long term results.
To understand this surgical procedure we have to understand knee anatomy first.
What is a knee replacement surgery.
Knee replacement also called knee arthroplasty or total knee replacement is a surgical procedure to resurface a knee damaged by arthritis.
Knee cap replacement is a type of partial knee replacement surgery in which only patellofemoral articulation is replaced with implants.
An artificial knee joint has metal alloy caps for your thighbone and shinbone and high density plastic to replace damaged cartilage.
If you see lower end of femur it has a groove for patella called patellofemoral groove.
To be honest i was surprised to learn that knee cap or patellar pain is a common complication of knee replacement.
Metal and plastic parts are used to cap the ends of the bones that form the knee joint along with the kneecap.
Hyaluronan injections for knee osteoarthritis.
The broken pieces of the patella will be put back into place and held together with a combination of screws wires and pins.
When to consider surgery.
The study authors found that in about 1 4 of the knee replacement patients with chronic knee cap pain blood flow in the knee cap area markedly decreased with flexing the knee.
During knee replacement surgery an orthopaedic surgeon will resurface your damaged knee with artificial components called implants.
Knee injuries and ostoearthritis.
This enables the knee to move properly.
One option is tension band wiring where they drill small holes in the different patella fragments and attach wires which hold the pieces together.
When knee cap injuries are more severe surgery is required.
A metal and plastic knee replacement implant is then placed in to function as a new knee joint.
The surgeon caps the ends of the bones that form the knee joint with metal or plastic components or implants a prosthetic shaped as a joint.
Knee replacement surgery also known as knee arthroplasty arth row plas tee can help relieve pain and restore function in severely diseased knee joints.