Total Knee Replacement Surgery in Pearland, TX

The Causes of Knee Wear and Tear

The knee is the largest joint in the body, and it experiences significant stress and wear over a lifetime. Most commonly, the cartilage that used to cushion the joint wears away due to osteoarthritis. Sometimes old injuries, years of extra weight on the joint, or a genetic tendency to wear out joints can be responsible.

Once that cartilage is gone, the bones grind together every time you walk, bend, or get up from a chair. Medication and injections can temporarily reduce symptoms, but they do not regrow cartilage.

When the joint is worn to the point that conservative management is no longer effective, joint replacement is an option that can address the underlying problem rather than just managing symptoms.

Signs You May Need to See a Knee Replacement Surgeon

Not every knee pain means you need surgery. But if several of these sound familiar, it’s worth getting evaluated:

• Knee pain that doesn’t improve with rest, ice, or medicine you can buy without a prescription
• Stiffness that makes it hard to bend or straighten your leg
• Recurrent swelling
• Grinding, clicking, or a feeling that your knee is unstable when you walk
• Change in sleep pattern or night pain
• Trouble climbing stairs, getting out of a car, or rising from low chairs
• X-ray showing significant loss of joint space or bone-on-bone contact

Dr. Burke starts with a thorough exam and imaging before recommending surgery. Physical therapy, weight management, bracing, and injections are usually tried first. Surgery becomes an option when these treatments no longer provide meaningful relief.

How Dr. Burke Performs Total Knee Replacement

A total knee replacement (total knee arthroplasty) is a surgical procedure in which the damaged surfaces of the knee joint are removed and replaced with an artificial implant. This is the usual choice for patients with widespread arthritis affecting the whole joint. The aim is to restore smooth movement and considerably reduce pain.

During the procedure, Dr. Burke resurfaces the end of the thighbone (femur), the top of the shinbone (tibia), and often the back of the kneecap (patella), then fits precisely sized implants that recreate the joint’s natural movement.

To guide implant positioning, he uses advanced computer-assisted navigation technology, which maps your knee’s unique anatomy in real time and helps him align the implant with a level of precision that’s difficult to achieve with traditional instrumentation alone.

More accurate alignment tends to translate into a more natural-feeling knee, better long-term implant performance, and a smoother path through recovery. Full knee replacement surgery typically takes one to two hours, and most patients go home the same day or after a short hospital stay, depending on their overall health and how the surgery goes.

Recovering From Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee replacement recovery is a process, but it’s a well-understood one, and most patients see steady, meaningful progress. We also provide post-op instructions to help you stay informed.

• Days 1 -3: Pain management, early ambulation with a walker or cane, gentle motion exercises (often the same day or day after surgery).
• Weeks 1-4: More intense physical therapy to regain range of motion and strength. Most patients transition off assistive devices during this period.
• Weeks 4-8: Continued strengthening, increased walking distance, and return to most light daily activities.
• 3–6 Months: Most patients report a return of strength, and they are able to resume such activities as driving, light exercise, and travel.

Up to 12 Months: Full recovery, with maximum strength and less swelling, can take up to a year, although most of the noticeable improvement occurs well before then.

Dr. Burke’s in-house physical therapy team works directly with him throughout your recovery, so your rehab plan stays connected to what he’s seeing at your follow-up visits rather than operating as a separate process.

Why Choose Dr. Burke for Total Knee Replacement in Pearland, TX

Dr. Robert L. Burke is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and part of Fondren Orthopedic Group, one of the largest and most established orthopedic practices in the Houston area. Over more than 35 years in practice, he’s treated over 148,000 patients and performed more than 27,000 procedures, including total knee replacements guided by computer-assisted navigation technology.

What sets his approach apart is the process he follows to reach that recommendation. He reviews your imaging, examines the joint, and exhausts reasonable non-surgical options first.  If total knee replacement turns out to be the right call, he’ll walk you through the reasoning in detail, based on your anatomy, activity level, and what your X-rays show, so the recommendation makes sense to you rather than feeling like a default answer.

Recovery continues well beyond the operating room. Dr. Burke’s on-site physical therapy team works directly alongside him, adjusting your rehab plan based on what he sees at your follow-up visits, so your recovery plan reflects both his clinical input and your therapist’s hands-on progress notes.