Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)

[ tow-tl nee aar-thruh-pla-stee ]

TKA stands for Total Knee Arthroplasty, which is a surgical procedure used to replace a damaged or diseased knee joint with an artificial joint or implant. The procedure is typically performed when other treatments such as medication, physical therapy, or injections no longer provide adequate relief. During a TKA procedure, the damaged bone and cartilage in the knee joint are removed, and the artificial joint is implanted. The goal of TKA is to relieve pain, improve mobility, and restore function to the knee joint.

Origin

The earliest attempts at knee replacement surgery can be traced back to the early 20th century, with surgeons experimenting with different materials and techniques to replace or resurface damaged knee joints. However, it was not until the 1970s that significant advancements were made in TKA procedures and implant design. Dr. John Insall and Dr. Chitranjan Ranawat, along with other orthopedic surgeons, played pivotal roles in refining the surgical technique and implant components, leading to more successful outcomes.

Reference