For advanced knee arthritis that no longer responds to non-operative care, replacing the worn joint surface can restore comfort and function. Dr. Wichman offers total, partial, and custom patellofemoral replacement, and performs selected knees with robotic (Mako) guidance for precise alignment.
Knee replacement is considered when arthritis is advanced and the simpler options have run their course. Before surgery is on the table, we work through the full ladder of care: activity changes, physical therapy, injections, and for the right candidate regenerative options. See the Knee Arthritis Roadmap for the whole path. When the joint is genuinely worn out, replacement is a reliable way to relieve pain and get you moving again.
The right replacement depends on how much of your knee is worn. Dr. Wichman offers:
Matching the implant to your arthritis pattern, rather than one size fits all, helps preserve as much of your own knee as possible.
Some knee replacements are performed with robotic (Mako) guidance, which helps plan and place the implant precisely for your anatomy and alignment. The surgeon performs the operation; the robot is a tool for accuracy.
Here is the honest part most robotic marketing leaves out: the evidence is not the same for every kind of replacement. It is strongest for partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement, where robotic guidance improves implant positioning and alignment and is linked to high durability, medial partial replacements have shown survivorship around 97% at five years, and some studies report lower revision and loosening rates than conventional technique. For total knee replacement, robotic guidance reliably improves alignment precision, but high-quality studies have not shown a clear advantage in how patients feel and function at two to five years compared with conventional surgery. We use robotic assistance where it genuinely adds value, most compellingly for the right partial-replacement candidate, rather than as a selling point on every knee.
Recovery centers on early motion and a structured physical therapy program. Most people are walking with support soon after surgery and progress over the following weeks. See total knee replacement post-op instructions.
When knee arthritis is advanced and non-operative care, therapy, injections, and activity changes, no longer controls your pain and function. We help you time it and exhaust the simpler options first.
Yes. For the right candidate whose arthritis is limited to one part of the knee, a partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement resurfaces only the worn compartment and preserves the rest of your natural knee. A custom patellofemoral replacement resurfaces just the kneecap joint when arthritis is confined there.
Some knee replacements are performed with robotic (Mako) guidance, which helps place the implant precisely for your anatomy. The surgeon performs the operation; the robot is a tool for accuracy, and not every knee needs it.
The evidence is strongest for partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement, where robotic assistance improves alignment and is linked to high mid-term survivorship and, in some studies, lower revision rates. For total knee replacement, it reliably improves alignment precision but has not clearly improved patient outcomes at two to five years compared with conventional surgery. We use it where it adds real value rather than on every knee.
In almost all cases, yes. Replacement is the last step. We work through the Knee Arthritis Roadmap, including therapy, injections, and regenerative options for the right candidate, before considering surgery.
New patients across Milwaukee are welcome. To request an appointment, email us at the address below and we will follow up to get you scheduled.
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Whether a procedure is right for you is a decision made with your surgeon after an evaluation. If this is a medical emergency, call 911.
Wichman Orthopedics