Bilateral Total Knee Replacement Surgery

Description

A bilateral knee replacement surgery is when both knees are replaced with artificial joints during a single procedure, or within a short period of time. Patients with severe arthritis in both knees often consider this procedure because it can restore a normal, balanced gait. Bilateral knee replacement is a longer surgery than a single knee replacement, making it more demanding on the body. However, many relatively healthy patients find the recovery manageable and more convenient.

Sometimes when one knee joint is replaced, it can be difficult to attain completely normal leg function without ultimately having the other knee fixed. For this reason, it is not uncommon for people to find out they need both knees replaced. In these cases, the question of timing for bilateral knee replacement surgery often arises.

The knee replacement surgery can either be done simultaneously or in stages—with one knee replacement first and the other several days, weeks, or months later.

The bilateral procedure can also be done for a partial knee replacement when either the medial (inside) or lateral (outside) portion of the knee is replaced.