Knee Replacement

What Is a Knee Replacement?

Knee replacement, also known as knee arthroplasty, is a procedure used to treat severe knee pain and loss of function caused by arthritis, injury, or joint degeneration. During surgery, damaged cartilage and bone are removed and replaced with artificial components designed to restore smooth, pain-free movement.

At Fox Valley Orthopedics, knee replacement surgery may be performed using the Signature Personalized Patient Care System®, a technology that creates patient-specific surgical guides based on advanced imaging of your knee. These guides are customized to your unique anatomy and help your surgeon accurately position implants during surgery.

Knee replacement may include:

Total knee replacement
Partial knee replacement
Patient-specific knee replacement using the Signature System
Revision knee replacement in select cases

The goal of surgery is to reduce pain, improve mobility, restore function, and help patients return to the activities they enjoy.

How Well Does a Knee Replacement Work?

Severe knee arthritis can make walking, climbing stairs, exercising, and participating in everyday activities increasingly difficult. When conservative treatment options are no longer effective, knee replacement surgery can provide substantial pain relief and improved quality of life.

Nearly every patient experiences:

Significant pain reduction
Improved knee mobility
Better walking ability
Increased independence
Improved participation in recreational activities
Enhanced overall quality of life

For patients undergoing customized surgical planning helps create a procedure tailored to the patient’s anatomy. This individualized approach may help optimize implant positioning and improve overall surgical precision.

What Are Knee Replacement Options?

Fox Valley Orthopedics offers several advanced approaches to hip replacement surgery. Your surgeon will recommend the technique that best fits your anatomy, goals, and medical needs.

Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacement

Robotic-assisted knee replacement utilizes precise measurement and alignment technologies to replace damaged portions of the knee joint affected by arthritis or other degenerative conditions. Using specialized imaging and robotic technology, the surgeon creates a customized surgical plan tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy.

During the procedure, the robotic system assists the surgeon in precisely removing damaged bone and cartilage while helping ensure accurate implant placement. The surgeon remains in complete control and present throughout the operation, using the robotic technology as a tool to enhance precision and consistency.

Robotic-assisted technology may be used for:

Total knee replacement
Complex knee reconstruction procedures
Certain revision knee replacement surgeries

The goal is to reliably and scientifically measure each step of the way during your replacement procedure.

Minimally-Invasive Knee Replacement

Minimally invasive knee replacement, often called muscle-sparing, quick or subvastus knee replacement, uses specialized techniques designed to reduce surgical trauma while achieving the same goals as traditional knee replacement.

Benefits may include:

Smaller incisions
Reduced tissue disruption
Less postoperative discomfort
Shorter hospital stays
Faster return to everyday activities

Opioid-Sparing Joint Replacement

Fox Valley Orthopedics is committed to helping patients recover while minimizing reliance on opioid pain medications whenever possible.

Opioid-sparing protocols combine multiple pain-management strategies, which may include:

Regional anesthesia
Non-opioid medications
Anti-inflammatory treatments
Multimodal pain-control techniques
Early mobilization after surgery

These approaches can help patients manage discomfort effectively while reducing opioid exposure during recovery.

Same-Day Knee Replacement

Many patients may be candidates for same-day knee replacement surgery.

With advances in surgical techniques, anesthesia, and recovery protocols, eligible patients can often:

Return home the day of surgery
Begin walking shortly after the procedure
Recover in the comfort of their own home
Benefit from a streamlined rehabilitation process

Your surgeon will determine whether outpatient joint replacement is appropriate based on your overall health and support system.

What Can I Expect When I Have a Knee Replacement?

Prior to surgery, your surgeon will conduct a comprehensive evaluation that may include:

Physical examination
X-rays
Advanced imaging studies
Review of medical history
Preoperative testing

If the Signature System is utilized, advanced imaging is obtained before surgery to create a three-dimensional model of your knee. This information is used to develop personalized surgical guides specific to your anatomy and procedure plan.

During surgery: