Though there are many ways to reduce the symptoms that occur with arthritis of the knee, many do not restore the patient’s quality of life. Therefore, many patients chose to undergo total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. In the United States, more than 400,000 primary knee and hip arthroplasties are performed each year, with the cost of these collective procedures totaling over $10 billion annually [1]. Total knee replacement is done to restore joint functionality and to relieve a patient from pain [4]. However, some patients still have pain after surgery is done. There are many studies to examine whether a patient’s life can be fully restored after total knee replacement surgery. The models used in these studies can be in vivo …show more content…
The anatomy of the knee can be seen in fig. 1. The two joints that make up the knee are the tibiofemoral and the patellofemoral joint. The tibiofemoral is considered the femur, tibia, fibula, articular cartilage, menisci, and ligaments [7]. The knee is where the fibula, tibia, and femur come together with the patella, or knee cap, in the middle. The movement of the knee is aided with the mechanical contacts between the cartilages and meniscus. The synovial membrane is where the synovial fluid is released. Synovial fluid is a lubricant for the knee and also aids in ease of …show more content…
There are the lateral meniscus and the medial meniscus. It consists of cartilage that provides a layer between the tibia and femur to absorb shock within the joint. The meniscus can be a major cause of knee problems if it becomes damaged or torn.
The articular cartilage surrounds the patella or kneecap. It is the tissue that covers the end of the bones, reducing friction between the bones. Over time this cartilage can be worn down, causing problems. The patella is held in place by two tendons the quadriceps tendon on the upper side, and then patella tendon on the lower side, connecting the patella to the