Knee Surgery

Knee surgery at Cortoclincs

Sometimes, osteoarthritis is so severe that knee surgery is necessary. This condition causes significant pain and movement limitations due to osteoarthritis in the knee. The surgery, which involves placing a partial or total knee prosthesis, aims to reduce pain, improve your quality of life, correct deformities, and restore knee function.

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Making an Appointment

A treatment at Cortoclinics is covered by the Dutch basic health insurance. If you want your treatment to be reimbursed through your Dutch health insurer, you’ll need a referral letter from your general practitioner. Please make sure to bring this letter to your first appointment or send it to us in advance.

Don’t have a referral letter yet?

Follow these steps

Insured with a non-Dutch health insurance provider?

Please contact us

Don’t have a referral letter yet?

Follow these steps

Read more
Insured with a non-Dutch health insurance provider?

Please contact us

Read more

We take plenty of time for you

We always plan a first outpatient visit well in advance, so that you have plenty of time to ask questions. Once everything is clear, we will start working on a treatment plan for you, based on your specific situation and needs.

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Preparing for your knee surgery

You have been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. You have decided with the orthopedic surgeon that a total knee prosthesis is the best treatment for you. At Cortoclinics, you won’t face long waiting times, so your knee surgery can be scheduled quickly.

Supporting robotic arm technology

At Cortoclinics, we use Mako-supporting robotic arm technology for hip replacements. With 3D imaging and real-time feedback, the robotic arm assists the surgeon in accurately placing the implant according to your anatomy. This leads to a better fit and alignment, faster recovery, and long-term satisfaction.

The surgeon sets up the robotic arm with CT scan data and controls it during the surgery. The robotic arm removes no more bone than necessary, resulting in a perfect fit for your hip prosthesis.

Read all about the Mako-robot
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Placement of the Knee Prosthesis

  • The orthopedic surgeon places the knee prosthesis during a surgery that takes about an hour. During the operation, you are preferably anesthetized with a spinal block or otherwise under general anesthesia.
  • We use a minimally invasive technique supported by robotic arm technology. This approach ensures a smaller incision in the skin and limits damage to tendons and muscles, which is essential for a quick recovery.
  • The surgeon removes the damaged bone and affected cartilage to place the prosthesis. To ensure the prosthesis fits perfectly, the positioning of the upper and lower prosthesis is adjusted. Robotic arm technology helps shape the bone and align the prosthesis precisely as planned.
  • The surgeon implants the two parts of the prosthesis without cement and press fit. The wound is then closed and bandaged.
  • After the surgery, you stay in the clinic for one night; the morning after the surgery, you can go home.

Possible Complications

Most knee replacement surgeries and rehabilitations proceed without issues. Although complications are rare, it is important to discuss all potential risks with the surgeon and to closely follow the prescribed rehabilitation and care plan to minimize the chance of problems.

  • Numbness or loss of sensation around the scar: This is caused by severed nerve endings during surgery and may be permanent.
  • Infection: Despite preventive measures such as antibiotics around the time of surgery and a sterile environment, an infection can occur, especially shortly after the procedure. This may require flushing the joint or temporary removal of the prosthesis.
  • Postoperative bleeding: In the case of significant bleeding with bright red blood, contact with the orthopedic surgeon is necessary.
  • Nerve damage: Rare, but may cause temporary paralysis, such as foot drop. Recovery can take several months.
  • Delayed wound healing: This can have various causes, and treatment depends on the specific situation. Contact with the orthopedic surgeon is always important.
  • Thrombosis or pulmonary embolism: Prolonged inactivity after surgery can lead to blood clot formation, which may result in serious complications like pulmonary embolisms. Blood thinners are required in such cases.
  • Loosening of the prosthesis: Occasionally, the prosthesis may loosen. This is very rare and usually the result of a fall or an infection. A new prosthesis may be required in such cases.
  • Stiffness due to scar tissue: Rare, but the knee may become stiff after surgery. Intensive physical therapy and sometimes pain management are possible treatments.

The specialists at Cortoclinics

Orthopedic surgeons Nanne Kort, Paul van Rensch, and Frank Jonkers are orthopedic care experts with years of experience in hip replacement surgeries. They use the latest technologies, such as Mako robotic arm technology, to ensure precision and optimal results. The Cortoclinics approach – advanced orthopedic care combined with warm personal attention – is focused on long-term satisfaction. Everything is aimed at your recovery and well-being. At Cortoclinics, you are in experienced and skilled hands.

Meet our orthopaedic surgeons
Cortoclinics

Frequently Asked Questions

Modern knee prostheses last on average between 15 and 20 years, depending on factors such as age, weight, activity level and the type of prosthesis. Sometimes a replacement of the prosthesis is necessary after a long time. After 15 years, more than 90% of clients still have the prosthesis as it was originally placed. Less than 10% of people have had a revision operation in these 15 years.

A total knee replacement – ​​a ‘new knee’ – replaces the entire knee joint. It consists of three parts: upper and lower parts of metal, separated by a plastic disc. The prosthesis is of high quality with metal of titanium or cobalt-chromium and a polyethylene plastic. These materials are specially designed for medical applications and are well tolerated by the body.

Yes, it does. The standard at CortoClinics is to retain your own kneecap in a total knee prosthesis, unless that is not possible in specific cases.Sometimes the wear is limited to just the kneecap, and the rest of the joint is unaffected. In those cases, placing a kneecap prosthesis may be an option. This consists of a metal component, attached to the front of the thighbone and a plastic component (polyethylene) on the back of the kneecap.

Recovery can vary, but most patients can return to normal daily activities within 6 weeks. However, full recovery can take 6 months to a year, depending on your health and the level of physical therapy.
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