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If you struggle with knee pain, stiffness or swelling due to arthritis or another knee joint disorder, it severely compromises your ability to complete even the simplest everyday tasks.
Being the largest joint, the knee is complex, made up of many important structures. It is also one of the easiest joints to injure. It is composed of three bones, articular cartilage, meniscus, ligaments and tendons—all of which can sustain injury.
That’s why we offer a team of board-certified orthopedists who specialize in both surgical and non-surgical knee treatments in our Brunswick, Portland, and Windham offices. Our specially trained physicians and surgeons provide a level of experience that no other orthopedic practice in Maine can match – and it’s reflected in our patients’ excellent outcomes.
The knee conditions we treat
- Arthritis
- Bone and joint injuries
- Patellar (kneecap) Fractures
- Distal Femur (thighbone) Fractures of the knee
- Proximal Tibia (shinbone) fractures
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injuries
- Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscal Tears
- Tendon Tears
- Dislocations
The knee services Spectrum Orthopaedics provides
You can count on our team for highly-specialized diagnostic resources and treatments, including:
- Advanced imaging including MRI and arthrography (a special x-ray to examine the interior of a joint)
- Non-surgical treatments including pain management (anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections) and physical and occupational therapy
- Minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery, usually performed in an ambulatory setting
- Design and fabrication of custom splints or braces to protect and/or rehabilitate an injured area
- Torn meniscus repairs / Meniscectomies
- Total joint replacement for degenerative or arthritic problems
When do you need a knee joint replacement?
Before we recommend knee joint replacement surgery, we typically suggest non-surgical measures to alleviate your pain and stiffness, and preserve your natural joint. These conservative treatments may include:
- Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen, naproxen and acetaminophen
- Avoiding or modifying activities that cause pain
- Physical therapy and low-impact exercise
- Weight loss to take pressure off damaged joints
- Bracing to provide support
- Corticosteroid injections
If these conservative measures don’t provide sufficient relief, joint replacement may be the best solution for eliminating your pain and restoring mobility. But this decision is made only after a thorough health evaluation and discussion between you and our orthopedic specialists.
Types of knee joint replacement
Spectrum’s orthopedic surgeons perform a wide variety of today’s most advanced joint replacement procedures, including:
Minimally invasive knee replacement
In traditional knee replacement, your surgeon makes an 8” to 10” vertical incision in the center of the knee to view and access the joint. With the minimally invasive approach, your surgeon makes a shorter (4” to 6”) incision and uses what’s called a quadriceps-sparing technique to access the joint. This avoids trauma to the tendon and muscles in the front of the thigh, which generally results in less post-operative pain and a faster recovery.
Also called a unicompartmental knee replacement, this procedure is an alternative to total knee replacement if your joint disease is limited to just one area of your knee. Your surgeon resurfaces only this portion of your knee with metal and plastic components. A partial knee replacement is less invasive, which often means a faster recovery, and better range of motion and knee function since it preserves healthy tissue and bone in your knee. You are still a candidate for total knee replacement should you need it in the future.
Know what to expect from knee joint replacement surgery
Studies show that informed patients have better outcomes. There are a number of ways to being informed about your knee joint replacement procedure. Our hospital partners offer free joint classes and connect you with a nurse navigator to make sure you have all the information you need for your hospital procedure. If you are scheduled to have your joint replacement as an overnight patient in the hospital you will be provided the pre-surgical class schedule.
An innovative approach to pain management
Rather than rely solely on narcotic medications for pain management after joint replacement, Spectrum takes an innovative multi-modal approach. This means administering two or more drugs that act by different mechanisms to provide pain relief—such as regional nerve blocks and non-narcotic medications.
Research shows that this approach improves pain relief while reducing opioid requirements and their related adverse effects—including the risk of addiction.
Importantly, it enables our patients to be up and moving—without significant pain—within hours of surgery, putting them on a fast path to recovery.
Physical rehabilitation: The key to your recovery
Knee joint replacement surgery is only the first step in regaining your range of motion, strength, flexibility, endurance, and ability to perform everyday activities. An individualized physical therapy program is essential for your optimal recovery.
You’ll begin your physical rehabilitation before your planned procedure and then within hours of waking up from surgery, starting with gentle exercises to help you bear weight and move your new joint. Your Spectrum Orthopaedics team will refer you to meet with your therapist before surgery and then you will schedule appointments to be ready for rehabilitation right after discharge.
