Surgery is performed under sterile conditions in the operating room under spinal or general anesthesia. You will be on your back and a tourniquet applied to your upper thigh to reduce blood loss. Surgery takes approximately two hours. The surgeon cuts down to the bone to expose the bones of the knee joint.
depending on your needs, either return home or proceed to a rehabilitation facility. You will need physical therapy on your knee following surgery.
Infection can occur with any operation. In the knee this can be superficial or deep. Infection rates vary.
If it occurs, it can be treated with antibiotics but may require further surgery. Very rarely your new knee may need to be removed to eradicate infection.