Total Knee Replacement is an operation in which we do not remove the whole joint, only the damaged surface of thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia) are shaved off. Often, underside of the kneecap (patella) is also removed and these surfaces are replaced with artificial parts.
The new joint consists of a metal shell on the end of the femur, a metal plate covered with a plastic trough on the tibia, and if needed, a plastic button on the kneecap. It is an operation where one just resurfaces the damaged knee joint, as is done in capping a damaged tooth.