TKR

In a total knee replacement the joint surfaces of tibia, femur, and often the patella too, are replaced with metal and plastic.

What is the difference between a TKR and a TKA?

Really the abbreviations TKA and TKR have come to be interchangeable - TKR means total knee replacement and TKA means total knee arthroplasty

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The word 'arthroplasty' means 'refashioning of the joint'.

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How is a TKR performed?

The surgeon uses special jigs to cut away the damaged bone of the femur, and then a commercial implant is usually cemented in to replace what has been removed.

On the tibial side, the plateau of the tibia, together with any remaining menisci, is removed and replaced with both metal and plastic, the plastic part of which can move.

• Quote From a peer-reviewed paper:

  "....One of the factors most strongly associated with postoperative satisfaction is patient's expectations: unmet expectations result in dissatisfaction. Therefore, it is important for surgeons to reach an agreement with patients on the possible benefits and risks of TKA through extensive discussion and explanation before surgery...."

  Citation: Choi YJ, Ra HJ. Patient Satisfaction after Total Knee Arthroplasty. Knee Surg Relat Res. 2016 Mar;28(1):1-15. doi: 10.5792/ksrr.2016.28.1.1. Epub 2016 Feb 29. PMID: 26955608; PMCID: PMC4779800.

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Rehabilitation after TKR

Since most TKR patients are elderly, rehabilitation focuses on 'activities of daily living'.

• Quote From a peer-reviewed paper:

  "....Physical rehabilitation is typically offered to patients who have undergone a TKA.....rehabilitation is not a single intervention but rather a complex intervention that incorporates multiple specific components (i.e., strength exercises, stretching) that may be initiated at different times after surgery, performed at different frequencies and intensities, delivered by different personnel, delivered in different settings...."

  Citation: Konnyu KJ, Thoma LM, Cao W, Aaron RK, Panagiotou OA, Bhuma MR, Adam GP, Balk EM, Pinto D. Rehabilitation for Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2023 Jan 1;102(1):19-33. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002008. Epub 2022 Mar 12. PMID: 35302953; PMCID: PMC9464796.

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Forum discussions

• Anybody get "zingers" (nerve pain)?

  Patients swapping stories about funny feelings in knee after TKR.

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