Knee Replacement Surgery
In Eagle and Summit County, Colorado
Knee Replacements
Whether the result of a degenerative disease or prior trauma, total knee replacement can help you reclaim your life.
Total Knee Replacement
Partial Knee Replacement
Want to learn more? Make an appointment with Dr. Cafferky.
Innovative Robotic & Custom Knee Replacement Technology.
Dr. Cafferky and his team offer cutting-edge robotic knee replacement surgery in Eagle and Summit County, Colorado.
Persona IQ® The Smart Knee™
Dr. Cafferky and his team are proud to offer Zimmer Biomet’s Persona IQ, the world’s first and only smart knee implant granted De Novo status by the FDA for total knee replacement surgery. With this latest technology, Dr. Cafferky can remotely monitor your recovery progress, and you can have confidence that you’re connected to your healthcare team, every step of the way.
Outpatient Rapid Recovery Total Knee Replacement
Innovative Knee Replacement Surgery in Frisco, Vail, and Edwards, Colorado.
Thanks to Dr. Cafferky's dedication to innovative treatments, patients are typically discharged three to four hours after their total knee replacement surgery and recover in the comfort of their own homes. This allows his patients to avoid unnecessary services and surprise bills.
Partnering with the best in total knee joint replacement technology
Is Total Knee Replacement Surgery Right For You?
Whether the result of a prior injury or a degenerative disease, joint replacement may be the answer. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, and conservative treatment methods have failed to alleviate your pain, you may be a candidate for joint replacement surgery:
Severe joint pain
Joint pain that prevents you from resting or keeps you awake at night
Joint pain that prohibits you from activity
Joint pain that disrupts necessary and daily functions, such as climbing stairs or walking
Understanding Knee Replacement Surgery
A lifetime of active living can cause the knee joint to breakdown, resulting in chronic pain, stiffness, and swelling. When these symptoms begin to impact your everyday life, a total knee replacement removes the damaged bones, tissue, and cartilage and replaces them with implants. This is accomplished by:
Replacing the damaged surface of the thighbone with a metal implant that fits into the resurfaced curve of the bone.
Resurfacing the shinbone and replacing the damaged bone with an implant that mimics cartilage, allowing the knee to glide smoothly through its movements.
Since a total knee replacement is an outpatient procedure, most of your rehabilitation will occur at home.
Knowing the Risks of Knee Replacement Surgery
A total knee replacement is considered major surgery and involves potential risks. Dr. Cafferky and his surgical team take all necessary precautions to prevent and manage the following possible risks. Common complications that can arise from a total knee replacement include:
1. Reaction to Anesthesia: Side effects related to anesthesia include nausea, vomiting, and headaches (all of which can usually be relieved with medication).
2. Infection: Infection is a risk with any surgical procedure. For the next years after your surgery, speak with your doctor (including your dentist) to see if you need preventive antibiotics before undergoing any procedure that could allow bacteria into your bloodstream.
3. Blood Clots: The risk of blood clots in the leg veins is related to alterations in blood flow that occur during knee surgery. Blood-thinning drugs are typically prescribed to improve blood flow and reduce the risk of clot formation. During your initial exam, Dr. Cafferky will assess your risk factors (ie: weight and cardiovascular history) to help select the best blood thinner for you. In the hospital, Dr. Cafferky may use elastic or compression stockings to further reduce the risk of blood clots. After surgery, physical therapy and exercises will be prescribed to prevent blood clots from forming.
4. Damage to Nearby Blood Vessels, Bones, or Nerves: To help minimize the damage that may occur to blood vessels, bones, and nerves in and around the incision, surgeons use precision tools, guides, and highly refined surgical techniques. Nerve damage, although rare, can cause irritation and pain following your surgery.
5. Persistent Pain: There is no guarantee that knee replacement will make your knee completely pain-free.
6. Implant Loosening, Wear, or Breakage: Knee implants can wear down, loosen, and (rarely) break. Such occurrences are typically accompanied by pain and/or loss of function and may require additional surgery.
7. Pneumonia: Pneumonia is a risk with major surgery, especially in older patients. Postoperative pneumonia occurs due to immobility and reduced use of total lung capacity following surgery. A respiratory therapist will show you how to cough, walk you through breathing exercises, and provide devices to help keep your lungs clear.
All patients are given a consent document to sign before surgery. This document explains the known (both major and minor) risks in greater. Patients are encouraged to discuss any questions or concerns with Dr. Cafferky before signing.
