Knee replacement surgeons in Denver

HealthONE's knee replacement programs can give you back the mobility and quality of life that was taken away by a damaged or injured knee. We offer these programs throughout the Greater Denver area. Using advanced surgical techniques, preoperative education and postoperative rehabilitation, we will get you back to your active lifestyle as soon as possible.

For more information about HealthONE's knee replacement programs, please call (303) 575-0055.

Anatomy of the knee joint

The knee joint is a "hinge" style joint because, similar to the hinges on a door, it allows back-and-forth motion. It also has the ability to rotate (turn) and translate (glide).

The knee has three compartments:

  • Medial—Inside aspect of the knee
  • Lateral—Outside of the knee
  • Patellofemoral—In front of the knee

The knee joint is also comprised of three bones:

  • Femur (thigh bone)
  • Patella (knee cap)
  • Tibia (shin bone)

All of these bones are held together with ligaments, tendons and muscles. Cartilage provides cushion around the bones so they can move easily.

When any part of the knee joint becomes unhealthy, you may experience pain and limited mobility. Pain could be due to osteoarthritis, injury or age-related overuse.

In these cases, HealthONE's knee specialists can help restore your joint health, providing total orthopedic care for your knee, from diagnosis to recovery.

Candidates for knee replacement surgery

A knee replacement surgery may be an effective treatment if:

  • You have chronic knee pain, such as pain lasting six months or longer
  • You have explored other options, such as medication or physical therapy, but still have knee pain
  • You have had X-rays or other imaging tests that show bone damage in the knee
  • You have pain that limits, significantly disrupts or completely prevents the ability to perform daily activities, such as walking or standing
  • You have persistent knee swelling and inflammation, despite taking medications
  • Your leg bows in or out

Types of knee replacement surgery

Knee replacement surgery, or "knee arthroplasty," restores function in the knee joint and alleviates discomfort. It involves resurfacing or replacing damaged parts of the joint with artificial implants.

We offer both partial and total knee replacements. Your surgeon will determine which procedure is right for you depending on the condition of your knee and which compartments are damaged.

Minimally invasive knee replacement

We use minimally invasive techniques whenever possible. Additionally, some of our hospitals offer advanced minimally invasive approaches to knee replacement, such as robot-assisted surgery.

HealthONE's Sky Ridge Medical Center was the first hospital in Colorado to perform a minimally invasive surgery that partially resurfaces the knee using an interactive robotic system. This innovative treatment for early to mid-stage osteoarthritis offers consistently precise results and shorter recovery times compared to traditional knee replacement surgery.

Partial knee replacement

A partial knee replacement is performed when only one compartment of the knee needs to be resurfaced. For example, the medial compartment is often affected by osteoarthritis. In this case, if your other compartments were still healthy, you would receive a partial knee replacement in which only the medial compartment would be replaced.

Total knee replacement

If all three compartments of the knee are damaged, you will likely need a total knee replacement, which may also include repairing the ligaments.

During total knee replacement surgery, our surgeons replace the knee bones with implants created from a combination of plastic, metal and/or ceramic.

There are three basic parts to the replacement knee joint:

  • The femoral component—Covers your thigh bone
  • The patellar component—Covers the underside of your knee cap
  • The tibial component—Covers the top of your shin bone

Rehabilitation after knee replacement surgery

Recovery from knee replacement surgery is aided by physical therapy, which helps restore the knee's function. This is why our hospitals provide physical therapy and rehabilitation while you are still an inpatient. Our licensed therapists work with you as soon are you are able, creating a personalized rehabilitation regimen to help you start moving and using your knee.

PERACare Select benefit for knee replacement patients

HealthONE is proud to offer the PERACare Select benefit in partnership with the Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). This benefit gives retirees enrolled in the PERA's pre-Medicare program access to a fixed price for a knee replacement. Retirees who take advantage of this benefit could save as much as $13,000 in out-of-pocket costs.