Patient Considerations: Comorbidities and Optimization

Total knee arthroplasty has become the gold standard for the treatment of end-stage knee arthritis. Choosing which patients are appropriate for this procedure is a very important process to ensure patient safety and optimal outcomes. A thorough history, physical examination, and radiographic examination are the key to the decision-making process. This will identify the patients for whom knee replacement is the best option. It will also help identify those for whom alternative treatments may be better. After patients have been selected as appropriate candidates for knee replacement, a thorough informed consent process should take place.