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Knee Replacement Specialist

Gregory Lavigne, MD -  - Orthopedic Surgeon

Southeastern Sports Medicine and Orthopedics

Gregory Lavigne, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon & Reconstructive Surgeon located in Asheville, NC & Arden, NC

If knee pain is getting the best of you, isn’t getting better, and prevents you from participating in normal daily activities, knee replacement surgery can help. Experienced, board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Gregory Lavigne — a member of the Southeastern Sports Medicine and Orthopedics team at Pardee Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina — completes knee replacement procedures to ease pain and restore your quality of life. Call to learn more, or book an appointment online today.

Knee Replacement Q & A

What is knee replacement surgery?

Damage to your knee joint hinders your quality of life by limiting range of motion and other movements, and causing knee pain.

Knee replacement surgery is a procedure that resurfaces knees severely damaged by injuries or arthritis. During surgery, Dr. Lavigne removes damaged bone and cartilage from your knee joint and replaces it with artificial parts made of plastic and metal.

Knee damage is often caused by:

  • Osteoarthritis: a degenerative joint disease
  • Rheumatoid arthritis: an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation
  • Traumatic arthritis: caused by an injury

Am I a good candidate for knee replacement surgery?

Dr. Lavigne lets you know if you’re a good candidate for knee replacement surgery. To help determine this, he:

  • Goes over your medical history with you
  • Assesses knee stability, strength, and range of motion
  • Uses X-rays to determine how damaged your knee joint is

You may be a good candidate for knee replacement surgery if knee pain and stiffness hinder your quality of life, and you’ve already tried other treatments — such as physical therapy or medications.

What should I expect during knee surgery?

During knee replacement surgery, Dr. Lavigne makes an incision that’s about 6-10 inches long and moves your knee cap out of the way to cut away damaged cartilage and other joint surfaces. He then replaces your damaged knee parts with artificial materials to create a resurfaced, artificial knee. The surgery takes about one and a half to two hours.

A physical therapist shows you exercises to do at home or in a physical therapy office while your knee heals. You may require a walker or crutches for several weeks after the procedure.

Once your knee heals, your knee pain subsides. You should notice better mobility and increased range of motion as well. Your new knee may last 15 years or longer.

Are there risks associated with knee replacement surgery?

Knee replacement surgery, as with any surgery, has potential risks associated with it, such as:

  • Blood clots or pulmonary embolus
  • Infection at the incision site
  • Nerve damage
  • Fracture
  • Heart attack or stroke

Dr. Lavigne answers questions about potential risks before surgery. When you’re ready to ease knee pain and regain the movement and range of motion you deserve, call the team of surgeons at Southeastern Sports Medicine and Orthopedics or schedule an appointment online.