Unicompartmental knee replacement is also becoming increasingly common. During this procedure, doctors replace just the inner or outer knee surfaces, depending on the location of damage.


 Click on Dr. Mason's photo
 to see a web streaming video
 on unicompartmental knee replacement.    






Femoral nerve block: pain control for knee replacement
Patients facing total knee replacement or other knee surgery at Saint Vincent can look forward to a less painful post-surgery experience with a procedure called a femoral nerve block. A femoral nerve block is a pre-surgical procedure in which an anesthesiologist inserts a catheter into the groin and threads it near the hip or knee. A local anesthetic is delivered to numb the joint during surgery and for two days afterward. Patients benefit from this procedure because it:

• Provides safe and effective post-operative pain control
• Decreases the need for pain medications, thereby also avoiding the possible side effects
• Helps patients begin post-operative physical therapy with less discomfort

Click here to read one patient’s experience of knee replacement surgery and recovery with a femoral nerve block.