Total knee replacement

This involves replacing damaged or worn parts of the knee joint with a prosthesis made up of metal and plastic parts. It’s a routine operation for knee pain most commonly caused by arthritis.

More than 70,000 knee replacements are carried out in England and Wales each year, and the number is rising. Most people who have a total knee replacement are over 65 years old.

For most people, a replacement knee lasts over 20 years, especially if the new knee is cared for properly and not put under too much strain.