Knee Reconstruction

Advanced care for the many types of knee surgery

The Kaplan Joint Center’s surgeons have performed thousands of knee surgeries. We can help you return to the activities your painful joints have forced you to give up. Our team has vast expertise in many forms of knee surgery, depending on your unique needs.

Total Knee Replacement (Total Knee Arthroplasty)

Total knee replacement surgery is done to replace an arthritic or badly damaged knee joint with highly engineered implants. The replacement part is called a prosthesis and is made of a combination of materials, including metal and polyethylene (plastic). Your surgeon will choose the prosthesis that is best for you. The goal of total knee replacement surgery is to increase mobility and improve pain.

Revision Knee Replacement (Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty)

Revision knee replacement involves replacing a knee implant that has worn out or failed with a new implant.

Partial Knee Replacement (Unicompartmental Knee Replacement)

We perform partial knee replacement when damage to the knee is limited to one side of the joint, a condition called single-compartment degenerative disease. Our surgeons resurface the worn portion of the knee joint is resurfaced while leaving the remainder of the joint unchanged.

Knee Arthroscopy

Knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure in which the surgeon inserts a tiny camera through a small incision in the knee and views the joint on a video monitor. The surgeon repairs the joint damage with thin instruments inserted into additional incisions.

Knee Osteotomy

In a knee osteotomy, the surgeon corrects poor alignment of the knee or redistributes weight. We perform this procedure to relieve pain, improve function, and prolong the life of the knee.

Surgery and Beyond

The duration of a total knee operation is typically between two to three hours, but your surgery time will depend on the condition of your knee, your size, and which procedure we perform. Your surgeon will give you an estimate of how long the surgery will take.

The Kaplan Joint Center uses the most up-to-date pain control techniques, which include preoperative medications, long-lasting injections, oral medications, and ice to minimize discomfort after surgery.

Kaplan Joint Center surgeons and our internist follow up after surgery to ensure your recovery goes smoothly. You’ll receive daily physical therapy and occupational therapy during your stay. Many of our physical therapists have specialty training and advanced certifications in orthopedics, and they can offer a recovery and treatment plan tailored to your post-operative needs. The therapy program emphasizes mobility, range of motion, and strengthening. Our care coordinator will coordinate discharge planning and your transition home or to an extended-care facility.

You can continue your recovery process as an outpatient at the Newton-Wellesley Ambulatory Care Center - Newton, which features an aquatic therapy pool.

Most of our patients are back to their normal activities from six weeks to six months after surgery, depending on their preoperative health, specific procedure, physical therapy, and other factors.

Know What to Expect from Knee Reconstruction Surgery

Our Joint Replacement Surgery Guide provides an overview of what to expect before, during, and after your surgery.

Learn more about knee replacement surgery in the below video from Nurse Educator Nancy Hiltz, RN, MS, ONC: