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The knee joint
The knee joint connects the lower part of the thighbone (femur) with the upper part of the shinbone (tibia) and the kneecap (patella). Cartilage covers the surfaces where the bones touch. The cartilage cushions the bones from the impact of walking or running and allows the bones to move smoothly.
When knee replacement is appropriate
When the cartilage is damaged or wears away, movement can become restricted and painful. The condition can be alleviated by knee replacement surgery. Almost half a million knee replacement procedures are performed in the United Stated each year. It is appropriate to consult with an orthopedic surgeon about the possibility of knee replacement surgery when:
- Pain makes it difficult or impossible to sleep.
- Medications don't relieve the pain.
- A medication that used to be effective for the pain no longer works.
- Pain makes getting out to shop, visiting friends or taking a vacation difficult or impossible.
- It is difficult to get out of a chair, go up or down stairs, get up from a toilet or get up from the floor.
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