Knee treatment and surgery

Do you have pain, swelling or instability in your knee? Does it lock up when you move it? If so, it might be time to have it examined by an HonorHealth knee surgeon in metro Phoenix.

Your HonorHealth doctor will meet you to diagnose your knee condition or injury. Your doctor will also discuss any underlying conditions or causes that may be contributing to your knee pain.

 

Nonsurgical treatment of knee pain

After evaluating your knee carefully, your orthopedic surgeon will create a treatment plan customized for you.

Treating your knee injury or condition will likely begin with a technique known as RICE:

R: Rest the injured area and discontinue the activity that caused injury.

I: Ice the injured area two to three times a day for 20 to 30 minutes at a time.

C: Use compression on the injured area with a brace or wrap.

E: Elevate the injured area as much as possible.

Your knee specialist also might recommend:

  • Immobilization: Bracing the knee to prevent movement and give the bones, ligaments, tendons and cartilage a chance to rest and heal. Crutches may be used to help keep weight off the knee.
  • Anti-inflammatory medications or injections: These help reduce pain and swelling
  • Physical therapy: Done to slowly and appropriately help restore knee function and strengthen the supporting muscles

HonorHealth Orthopedics patient - knee treatment and surgery

Surgical treatment

When the structures of your knee become injured or diseased, surgery may be needed to ease your symptoms and restore function. When appropriate, orthopedic surgeons at HonorHealth may use a technique called arthroscopic surgery of the knee. This is done on an outpatient basis, meaning you'll probably go home after the procedure. This minimally invasive surgical approach can be used to treat knee injuries and conditions while offering benefits like:

  • Smaller incisions
  • Less scarring
  • Reduced need for pain medication
  • Quicker recovery

HonorHealth orthopedic surgeons use modern techniques and technologies to deliver the most precise surgical treatments possible. Because many knee injuries require surgeons to have greater access to structures and components within the knee, open knee surgery is still common practice.

Regardless of the type of knee surgery that's recommended for you, the goal is to alleviate your pain, restore function and get you moving again. At HonorHealth, orthopedic surgeons perform various types of knee surgery, including:

  • Total knee replacement surgery, also called total knee arthroplasty: It treats the degenerative effects of arthritis or severe injury by replacing the worn out/damaged cartilage in the knee. Total knee replacement surgery is a common method of treatment for end-stage arthritis of a knee, regardless of its cause.
  • Partial knee replacement surgery, also called unicompartmental knee replacement, replaces only the damaged part(s) of the knee, if the damage is more isolated and other areas of the knee are normal
  • Revision knee replacement surgery due to wear, loosening, injury, or in some cases, infection of the original knee replacement
  • Arthroscopic knee surgeries to diagnose and sometimes treat knee injuries and conditions affecting the soft tissues that surround, protect and allow your knee to function properly

After knee surgery

Today's surgical advances usually mean shorter post-surgical hospital stays. In most cases, you'll be able to go home within 24-48 hours of knee surgery.

Your recovery plan will probably also include comprehensive outpatient physical therapy. Therapy will help you regain strength, improve movement and restore function, helping you get back to doing the activities you enjoy.

Throughout your treatment, your HonorHealth orthopedic surgeon will work with your primary care physician to ensure that you receive the best possible care. Your surgeon also may collaborate with a physical therapist, anesthesiologist, hospitalist, orthopedic nurses and others in the hospital.