Knee Replacement Surgery
At BMM, with the help of our knee prosthesis specialist physicians, we have compiled the most important information regarding knee replacement surgery. How is knee prosthesis implantation performed? When is knee replacement surgery necessary? How can you prepare for the intervention? What to expect after knee replacement surgery? We provide useful information and answers to the most frequently asked questions to help you learn about and make decisions regarding knee replacement surgery.
About knee prosthesis
Knee prosthesis implantation is the second most common major joint replacement surgery.
With the continuous advancement of medical science and technology, numerous innovative solutions have emerged in the field of knee replacement surgery over recent decades. These innovations enable faster recovery on one hand, and nearly perfect knee function and movement on the other, with significantly longer lifespan than before. Today, it can be said that thanks to modern technology, knee replacement surgeries can truly provide a definitive solution for patients suffering from advanced knee joint degeneration.
When is knee prosthesis implantation necessary?
Knee prosthesis implantation, as a solution, arises in cases of advanced knee joint cartilage degeneration or other knee joint cartilage damage. The intervention is recommended when the cartilage surface covering the knee joint disappears, and during movement, bone meets bone. This causes extremely severe pain and difficulty in movement and walking for the patient.
The healthy knee joint?
The knee joint is the largest and most complex joint in the human body. Its bony components are the femur, tibia, patella, and the head of the fibula. The joint head is located at the distal end of the femur, while the joint socket is at the proximal end of the tibia. Their alignment is not perfect even in healthy cases, which is why a complex ligament system and two crescent-shaped cartilage rings (meniscus) assist and stabilize knee movement. In the knee joint, the bones are covered by articular cartilage (hyaline cartilage), which ensures smooth joint movement and flexibility.
The most common causes of knee joint cartilage changes
Knee joint cartilage degeneration is accompanied by chronic knee pain, which can have multiple underlying causes. Most commonly, so-called primary knee joint cartilage degeneration, or arthrosis, causes the problem. In this case, the cartilage surface covering the knee joint wears away with advancing age, without any prior external indication or injury. Cartilage degeneration is a natural part of aging; however, there are factors that can accelerate it and methods that can slow this process.
Knee joint inflammation, various knee injuries, improper loading, and abnormal alignment of the knee joint axes (knock-knee or bow-leg) can also lead to knee joint cartilage degeneration or damage.
Our patients’ recovery stories – click for videos
Treatment of chronic knee pain
The cause of chronic knee pain is usually knee joint cartilage degeneration, which in its early stages can be treated very effectively with conservative—that is, non-surgical—methods. Such treatments include physiotherapy, joint cartilage-building therapy, injection therapy, and various physical therapy treatments. If necessary, special serum therapy or so-called Lipogems stem cell treatment can also be applied.
In advanced stages of knee joint cartilage degeneration, when conservative treatments do not produce results, knee prosthesis implantation provides a long-term solution. Today, modern, high-load-bearing, excellent-quality prosthesis systems are implanted using minimally invasive surgical techniques.
Thanks to extremely advanced technology, artificial intelligence-guided orthopedic robotic surgery for prosthesis implantation is now available, which can elevate patients’ comfort and quality of life to a new level.
Dr. Péter Molnár
Orthopedic-Traumatologist, Chief Operating Surgeon, Robotic Surgeon
Online appointment booking for Pesti út clinic:
Please select the service that suits you
Online appointment booking for the Bokor Street clinic:
Please select the service that suits you
The fee for the follow-up examination is valid for 3 months after the initial examination for the same complaint, depending on the examination location.
- 1. Select the requested service from the drop-down menu!
- 2. Use the calendar to choose a suitable appointment time!
- 3. Register by entering your details, or log in with your previous registration!
- 4. If you wish to book on behalf of another person (e.g., your child), please indicate this in the designated field!
- 5. Briefly describe your complaints!
- 6. Select the type of consultation: initial examination, follow-up examination, or prescription.
- 7. Click the button to complete the appointment booking. Thank you for choosing BMM!
If you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment, please notify us of your cancellation at least 24 hours in advance. This allows other patients the opportunity to receive timely medical care. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!
Cancellation: +36 1 44 33 433
If you cannot find an available appointment for your selected week, please call our call center at +36 1 44 33 433 for further assistance! Our staff will be happy to help you schedule an appointment with your chosen physician or another specialist according to your complaint.
Robot-assisted knee replacement surgery – AI in orthopedic robotic surgery
Robot-assisted knee prosthesis surgery is a revolutionary technology that enables physicians to achieve more precise results than ever before. The robotic technology maps the condition of the knee joint in real time with tenth-of-a-millimeter precision, then assists the surgeon in the precise placement of the prosthesis. As a result, the surgery carries lower risk, unnecessary tissue damage is minimized, and recovery is more optimal.
Compared to traditional surgeries, the main advantages of the robot-assisted procedure are:
- More precise prosthesis fit, which reduces the chance of implant loosening and increases its lifespan.
- Even in cases of severe knock-knee or bow-leg deformities, knee replacement surgery can be performed safely with optimal results.
- In robot-assisted surgeries, the incidence of potential limb length discrepancies is lower compared to traditional surgical types.
- The surgery does not require prior MRI or CT scan, as the CORI robot creates a 3D model of the knee during the operation. This saves time and costs for patients, while the results of the intervention become even more precise and personalized.
Patients who prioritize faster recovery, longer-term results, and a more natural feel choose robot-assisted knee replacement surgery.
What does minimally invasive surgical technique mean?
The increasingly widespread minimally invasive prosthesis implantation technique is essentially a soft tissue-sparing surgical procedure. Its essence is that the knee joint is accessed through the smallest possible incision, and orthopedic surgeons perform the intervention by displacing muscles rather than cutting them. This results in faster recovery with less pain.
The course of knee replacement surgery
During knee prosthesis implantation surgery, the operating orthopedic surgeon makes a longitudinal incision on the skin over the knee joint. After opening the joint capsule, the muscle is slightly separated along its fibers on the inner part of the extensor musculature. This is medically termed midvastus approach.
Following preliminary sizing, the femur and tibia are cut to shape using templates, thereby removing the diseased cartilage and a small portion of the bone.
Metal prosthesis implants are then fixed to the tibia and femur, and a hardened plastic insert is placed into the metal component on the tibia to ensure proper movement function. Subsequently, the knee joint and surrounding area are infiltrated with pain-relieving and hemostasis injections, and the knee joint is closed in layers.
The prosthesis implant on the femur has the same shape as the original femoral end, and the prosthesis component fixed to the tibia mimics the tibial end. Thus, the implanted knee prosthesis functions both externally and operationally just like the previous knee joint, but without the inflammation and pain caused by cartilage degeneration.
Types of knee prostheses
There are two types of prosthesis systems: cemented, i.e., fixed with adhesive, and cementless, i.e., fixed without adhesive knee prosthesis.
The cemented knee prosthesis is more widely used worldwide, as it can be loaded sooner after surgery. However, in young patients with good bone and muscle mass, the use of cementless knee prosthesis is increasingly common, which significantly improves the success rate of any potential future revision surgery.
The type of prosthesis is determined by the operating orthopedic surgeon during pre-operative planning; we select what is most suitable for the knee’s bone and ligament system.
The prosthesis implants used by BMM’s knee prosthesis specialist physicians are rated excellent in the International Prosthesis Registry.
Personalized knee prosthesis
In recent decades, tremendous technological advancements have been made in the field of knee prosthesis implantation. The result of this innovation is a new, modern, and cutting-edge procedure that enables personalized knee prosthesis implantation—naturally using minimally invasive surgical techniques for the fastest possible rehabilitation. With personalized knee prosthesis, the surgery can be performed faster and more precisely, while patient satisfaction also increases. The orthopedic-traumatology specialist physicians at Budapest Musculoskeletal Private Clinic already perform customized, personalized knee replacement surgeries within the framework of private hospital care.
Two renowned and experienced chief orthopedic-traumatology physicians at our private clinic, Dr. Szabolcs Gáspár and Dr. Zoltán Bejek, provide detailed information about personalized knee prosthesis in the video below.
Dr. Gergely Holnapy, PhD
Chief Orthopedic-Traumatology Physician, University Adjunct, Robotic Surgeon
Online appointment booking for Budafoki út clinic:
Please select the service that suits you
The follow-up fee is valid for 3 months after the initial examination for the same complaint.
- 1. Select the requested service from the drop-down menu!
- 2. Use the calendar to choose a suitable appointment time!
- 3. Register by entering your details, or log in with your previous registration!
- 4. If you wish to book on behalf of another person (e.g., your child), please indicate this in the designated field!
- 5. Briefly describe your complaints!
- 6. Select the type of consultation: initial examination, follow-up examination, or prescription.
- 7. Click the button to complete the appointment booking. Thank you for choosing BMM!
If you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment, please notify us of your cancellation at least 24 hours in advance. This allows other patients the opportunity to receive timely medical care. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!
Cancellation: +36 1 44 33 433
If you cannot find an available appointment for your selected week, please call our call center at +36 1 44 33 433 for further assistance! Our staff will be happy to help you schedule an appointment with your chosen physician or another specialist according to your complaint.
Preparing for Surgery
Preparation for surgery begins at the orthopedic medical examination when the need for knee prosthesis implantation arises. The thorough examination includes taking the anamnesis, examining knee joint movement, and analyzing the results of diagnostic imaging reports (X-ray, CT, MRI). Based on these, the diagnosis and treatment plan can be established. If the condition of the knee joint warrants it, surgical knee prosthesis implantation is considered.
Before knee surgery, emphasis must be placed on several factors. One of the most important is body weight, which also significantly affects the survival of the prosthesis after surgery. If necessary, it is recommended to begin physiotherapy even before the surgery.
The physician’s responsibility is to provide comprehensive information about the surgery and other options. The decision about knee replacement surgery must be made by the patient based on the information received. The surgical decision is significantly influenced by previously applied but ineffective conservative treatment, constant chronic pain, nighttime pain that disturbs rest, and significant movement limitations.
What to expect after knee replacement surgery?
After knee replacement surgery, the patient can get up and stand beside the bed on the same day. The day after surgery, they can already take a short walk and leave the hospital room. This is when exercise begins, first with a special exercise machine, then with active exercises and walking practice with the help of a physiotherapist. After knee prosthesis implantation, it is generally necessary to stay in the hospital for 3 nights, which can sometimes be shortened to 2 nights. During the surgery, when closing the wound, we infiltrate the tissues with local anesthetic injections and achieve comfortable post-operative hours with continuous pain management.
The success of knee replacement surgery depends 50% on the physician and the implanted prosthesis, and 50% on the patient. The key element of successful recovery is rehabilitation. One of its main components is physiotherapy, which is worth starting even before the surgery (pre-operative physiotherapy), and can begin almost immediately after surgery with careful, professional movements. Post-operative physiotherapy greatly contributes to the regeneration of muscles and ligaments and the recovery of pain-free mobility. In addition to physiotherapy, it is recommended to start cycling over time, which should be continued regularly.
Our knee prosthesis specialist physicians:
Dr. Gergely Holnapy, PhD
Chief Orthopedic-Traumatology Physician, University Adjunct, Robotic Surgeon
Dr. Péter Molnár
Orthopedic-Traumatologist, Chief Operating Surgeon, Robotic Surgeon
Dr. Zoltán Bejek PhD
Orthopedic Associate Professor, Robotic Surgeon
Dr. Szabolcs Gáspár
Orthopedic-traumatologist, head physician, robotic surgeon
Dr. János Bartha
Chief Orthopedic-Traumatologist, Robotic Surgeon
Dr. Péter Doszkocs
Orthopedic-Traumatologist Chief Physician, Hip and Knee Surgeon, Lower Limb Specialist, Robotic Surgeon
Dr. Maysam Moghaddam Amin
Orthopedic-Traumatologist Specialist, Robotic Surgeon
Dr. Kálmán Ferenc Egyed
Chief Orthopedic-Traumatologist
Dr. Ferenc Tompai
Chief Orthopedic and Trauma Surgeon
Dr. Dániel Kincses
Orthopedic-Traumatologist Specialist, Robotic Surgeon
WHY IS BMM THE SAFEST SOLUTION?
Coordinated Surgical Team
Our orthopedic surgeons performing knee replacement surgery have been working together for decades and know each other’s every move.
Thousands of Surgeries Experience
Our orthopedic surgeons have performed thousands of successful knee prosthesis implantations; there is no case they have not encountered.
Modern Technology
Our surgeons use minimally invasive prosthesis implantation, which greatly reduces post-operative pain and accelerates rehabilitation.
Kettős specialista műtétek a legjobb eredményért
Teljes páciens út a bejelentkezéstől a gyógyulásig
Elsőbbségi kiszolgálás a műtétre váróknak
Mrs. Pál Hecsei
Patient of Dr. Péter Molnár
“I trusted the chief physician completely, both myself and my family. We decided that I would rather go to a private hospital where there is no waiting, because the surgery actually took place within 1 month of the decision. I trusted the chief physician completely, I knew everything would be fine, I would recover quickly, and that is exactly what happened.”
Zsuzsanna Debreczeni
Patient of Dr. Zoltán Bejek
“Eight months after the knee surgery, I was in America. I went to a lighthouse and was thinking about whether to go up or not, then I decided to do it. I counted: I had to climb 115 steps, but I went up and down without any problem. So I immediately sent a postcard to the doctor saying I was thinking of him fondly.”
János Markó
Patient of Dr. Gergely Holnapy
“I was working as a courier when the pain started, but unfortunately my condition deteriorated so much that I couldn’t walk, and I had to leave that job. However, thanks to the successful surgery, I returned. Within 3 months of the surgery, I was a courier again, without pain.”
Tibor Remzső
Patient of Dr. Szabolcs Gáspár
“I could cycle before and now I can again. I could also swim, and I can again. I can move much more confidently than before. These knees are strong. When I think about how I can support myself with my two knees, now I know that the two knee prostheses are stronger than my old knees ever were.”
For knee joint pain or questions regarding knee replacement surgery, please contact our specialist physicians with confidence!
Request an appointment for consultation or examination at +36 (1) 44-33-433!
Book an appointment by phone
Online Appointment Booking