If you have chronic knee pain, find everyday tasks such as climbing stairs are difficult or aren’t getting relief from non-surgical knee treatments, it might be time to consult with your primary healthcare provider about knee replacement surgery.

Arthritis is the most common reason that people need knee replacement surgery, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

If the arthritis is localized to one of the three compartments of the knee joint, partial knee replacement surgery is an option. Otherwise, a patient will need a total knee replacement.

During knee replacement surgery, the orthopedic surgeon will remove damaged cartilage and bone; position metal implants; potentially resurface the kneecap (patella) and replace with a plastic prosthesis; and insert a spacer.

Many physicians and orthopedic surgeons advise patients to wait to have knee replacement surgery as long as possible, as the implant begins to wear in the plastic spacer over time.