Knee Replacement Questions?
Discover new, game-changing technologies that can help you start living your full life again—a more normal feeling knee,1 a smoother recovery2,3 and implants built to last.
Discover more.
Fear less.
The ultimate knee replacement experience
See how knee replacement has changed—and what it can do for you.

Designed for you
With 3D digital modeling you get a surgical plan that’s customized to your unique anatomy. That means your surgeon can perform your robotics-assisted procedure more efficiently and accurately than traditional knee replacement.
Robotics-assisted Surgery
The latest innovation is our handheld robotics-assisted technology for partial and total knee replacements. This advanced technology enables your surgeon to plan and perform your surgery with a greater degree of accuracy than is possible with traditional methods.9
A unique plan
Your knee replacement surgery is as unique as you are. After all, it is the only one that’s based on the combination of your individual knee anatomy and the specific implant your surgeon has determined is right for you. To help ensure your implant is positioned and aligned correctly to your anatomy, the Robotics Surgical System creates a customized 3D digital model of your knee. This three-dimensional view helps your surgeon choose the right implant for you. In addition, the 3D digital model eliminates the need to get a CT scan of your knee before your surgery, which reduces your exposure to harmful radiation.
A natural fit
The benefits of robotics-assisted surgery is about more than just a detailed 3D view of your knee. The Robotics Surgical System also helps ensure your procedure is performed as the surgeon planned it, giving you the benefits of enhanced accuracy when compared to traditional knee surgery. Accuracy is important because it not only helps the implant function as intended, it also helps avoid uneven wear which can shorten the longevity of an implant.
More implant options
Unlike other robotics platforms, our system works with all of our partial and total knee implants. This wide selection allows your surgeon to chose the right implant for you.

An implant built to last
Your surgeon has access to implants made from a unique metal alloy designed to reduce the effects of implant wear and tear. In fact, this alloy has been lab-tested for durability 9-times longer than the international standard for joint replacements.
What is Oxidized Zirconium?
If it is determined that a knee implant is right for you, the femoral – or thighbone portion – of your implant will be made from Oxidized Zirconium – a patented and award winning ceramicised metal alloy.
During manufacture, Oxidized Zirconium implants undergo a process that transforms the implant’s surface into a hard, ceramicised metal – while still retaining all of the durability of the underlying metal. In addition to being more durable than a true ceramic, this metal implant’s ceramicised surface is more than twice as hard and therefore twice as resistant to the kind of scratching that can cause a cobalt chrome implant to wear out before its time.

A wide selection
With knee implants, your surgeon is choosing from the widest selection available. That means your implant can be precision-matched to feel more like your own knee.
Feed your curiosity
Not every orthopaedic surgeon is trained to use advanced technologies.
Jesse Pace, DO
Dr. Pace is a graduate of Centre College in Danville, where he was a James Graham Brown Scholar. He earned his doctor of osteopathy from Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Pace completed both his internship and orthopedic surgery residency at Doctors Hospital of Stark County in Massilon, Ohio, where he also served as chief resident.
Dr. Pace completed an orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship at the American Sports Medicine Institute and the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Alabama, under the direction of James R. Andrews, M.D
Dr. Pace has served as team physician for various high schools, providing orthopaedic care for their student-athletes. Most recently, he was the orthopaedic sports medicine fellow assigned to provide care for all student-athletes at Birmingham Southern College and Auburn University in Birmingham, Alabama.
Dr. Pace is board eligible by the American Osteopathic Association of Orthopaedic Surgery (AOAO). His special interests include the diagnosis and treatment of injuries of the shoulder, knee and elbow.
Leslie Schwindel, MD
Dr. Schwindel is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine and the Kentucky Medical Association. She specializes in all aspects of orthopedic surgery including general orthopedics, sports medicine, joint replacement, muscle and tendon injuries, pediatric injuries, and bone and joint health, among others.
Dr. Schwindel is a native of Lewisport, KY. She earned her medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, KY and completed her orthopedic residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago in Chicago, IL. She received her fellowship training in orthopedics/sports medicine from Cincinnati Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center in Cincinnati, OH.
Discover the benefits
Request an appointment with us today to learn about robotics-assisted surgery that delivers a more normal feeling knee,1 a quicker, smoother recovery2,3 and an implant built to last.
Uncover more answers
Hear from others about how getting knee surgery has restored their ability to participate in their lives.
Uncover more answers
Hear from others about how getting knee surgery has restored their ability to participate in their lives.
Lee’s story
Rodeo is in his blood, and 90 days after surgery he was back in the saddle.
Lucio’s story
Farming and hard work are his life; now he can get back to both.
Karla’s story
This active exerciser can walk and workout again without pain.

How bad is your knee pain?
Answer these common, multiple choice questions to help your doctor better understand your knee pain.
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Bringing advancements to the market
Hip, knee, back, shoulder, and muscle pain can stop you in your tracks, robbing you of your mobility and ability to enjoy life. At the offices of Lake Cumberland Orthopedics and Lake Cumberland Orthopedics: Sports Medicine, we can help you get back to enjoying life. From fractures and sports-related injuries to chronic and debilitating pain, you’ll find the specialist to meet your needs.
We offer a wide range of orthopedic and sports medicine services, including total joint replacement, fracture care, issues arising from arthritis and overuse, sports or physical activity-related injuries, and more. Our team uses specialized, innovative procedures to return you to your active and independent lifestyle. We take a team approach to care by collaborating with radiologists, physicians, physiatrists, specialized nurses, therapists, and trainers to ensure high-quality care in an easily-accessible manner.
Our goal is to find the best path forward to recovery, return each patient to the highest level of physical activity possible, and improve our patients’ quality of life. We strive to meet the medical needs of athletes and adults of all ages in the South-Central Kentucky region.

Yes – you can
It’s time to stop settling and start getting on with your life. You can take the stairs.8 You can go for walks. You can stop being afraid. You can – with the ultimate knee replacement experience.
The information listed on this site is for informational and educational purposes and is not meant as medical advice. Every patient’s case is unique and each patient should follow his or her doctor’s specific instructions. Please discuss nutrition, medication and treatment options with your doctor to make sure you are getting the proper care for your particular situation.
◊ Trademark of Smith+Nephew. The information on this site is intended for US residents only © 2022 Smith+Nephew
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References
- Hall, et al. Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (alias uni-knee): an overview with nursing implications. Orthopaedic Nursing. 2004;23(3):163-171. Accessed April 25, 2019.
- Based on pre-surgical pain levels in UKA patients.
- Mayman DJ, Patel AR, Carroll KM. Hospital related clinical and economic outcomes of a bicruciate knee system in total knee arthroplasty patients. Poster presented at: ISPOR Symposium; May 19-23, 2018; Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
- Nodzo SR, Carroll KM, Mayman DJ. The Bicruciate Substituting Knee Design and Initial Experience. Techniques in Orthopaedics. 2018;33(1):37-41
- Compared to non-JOURNEY II knees; Based on BCS evidence
- 1Short-term Range of Motion is Increased after TKA with an asymmetric bicruciatestabilized implant.AcceptedPoster Presentation, AAOS 2018 New Orleans. Kaitlin M. Carroll, Peter K. Sculco, Brian CMichaels,RichardL. Murphy, Seth A, Jerabek, David J. Mayman
- 2J Orthop. 2017 Jan 7;14(1):201- 206. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2016.12.005. eCollection 2017. Bi-cruciate substituting total knee arthroplasty improved medio-lateral instability in mid-flexion range
- In Vivo Kinematic Comparison of a Bicruciate Stabilized Total Knee Arthroplasty and the Normal Knee Using Fluoroscopy Trevor F. Grieco, MS a, *, Adrija Sharma, PhD a, Garett M. Dessinger, BS a, Harold E. Cates, MD b, Richard D. Komistek, PhD. The Journal of Arthroplasty, September 2017
- Testing concluded at 45 million cycles, ISO 14242-1 and 14243-3 define test completion at 5 million cycles. The results of laboratory wear simulation testing have not been proven to predict actual joint durability and performance in people. A reduction in wear alone may not result in improved joint durability and performance because other factors, such as bone structure, can affect joint durability and performance and cause medical conditions that may result in the need for additional surgery. These other factors were not studied as part of the testing.
- Iriuchishima T, Ryu K. Bicruciate substituting total knee arthroplasty improves stair climbing ability when compared with cruciate-retain or posterior stabilizing total knee arthroplasty. Indian J Orthop. 2019. doi:10.4103/ortho.IJOrtho_392_18.
- Smith JR, Picard F, Lonner J, et al. The accuracy of a robotically-controlled freehand sculpting tool for unicondylar knee arthroplasty. Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics. August 4-9, 2013. Natal, Brazil.
- Zardiackas, Lyle D., Kraay, Matthew J., Freese, Howard L, editors. Titanium, Niobium, Zirconium, and Tantalum for Medical and Surgical Applications ASTM special technical publication; 1471. Ann Arbor, MI: ASTM, Dec. 2005
The information listed on this site is for informational and educational purposes and is not meant as medical advice. Every patient’s case is unique and each patient should follow his or her doctor’s specific instructions. Please discuss nutrition, medication and treatment options with your doctor to make sure you are getting the proper care for your particular situation.
◊ Trademark of Smith+Nephew. The information on this site is intended for US residents only © 2020 Smith+Nephew
References
*Journey II BCS.
- Hall, et al. Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (alias uni-knee): an overview with nursing implications. Orthopaedic Nursing. 2004;23(3):163-171. Accessed April 25, 2019.
- Based on pre-surgical pain levels in UKA patients.
- Mayman DJ, Patel AR, Carroll KM. Hospital related clinical and economic outcomes of a bicruciate knee system in total knee arthroplasty patients. Poster presented at: ISPOR Symposium; May 19-23, 2018; Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
- Nodzo SR, Carroll KM, Mayman DJ. The Bicruciate Substituting Knee Design and Initial Experience. Techniques in Orthopaedics. 2018;33(1):37-41
- Compared to non-JOURNEY II knees; Based on BCS evidence
- 1Short-term Range of Motion is Increased after TKA with an asymmetric bicruciatestabilized implant.AcceptedPoster Presentation, AAOS 2018 New Orleans. Kaitlin M. Carroll, Peter K. Sculco, Brian CMichaels,RichardL. Murphy, Seth A, Jerabek, David J. Mayman
- 2J Orthop. 2017 Jan 7;14(1):201- 206. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2016.12.005. eCollection 2017. Bi-cruciate substituting total knee arthroplasty improved medio-lateral instability in mid-flexion range
- In Vivo Kinematic Comparison of a Bicruciate Stabilized Total Knee Arthroplasty and the Normal Knee Using Fluoroscopy Trevor F. Grieco, MS a, *, Adrija Sharma, PhD a, Garett M. Dessinger, BS a, Harold E. Cates, MD b, Richard D. Komistek, PhD. The Journal of Arthroplasty, September 2017
- Testing concluded at 45 million cycles, ISO 14242-1 and 14243-3 define test completion at 5 million cycles. The results of laboratory wear simulation testing have not been proven to predict actual joint durability and performance in people. A reduction in wear alone may not result in improved joint durability and performance because other factors, such as bone structure, can affect joint durability and performance and cause medical conditions that may result in the need for additional surgery. These other factors were not studied as part of the testing.
- Iriuchishima T, Ryu K. Bicruciate substituting total knee arthroplasty improves stair climbing ability when compared with cruciate-retain or posterior stabilizing total knee arthroplasty. Indian J Orthop. 2019. doi:10.4103/ortho.IJOrtho_392_18.
- Smith JR, Picard F, Lonner J, et al. The accuracy of a robotically-controlled freehand sculpting tool for unicondylar knee arthroplasty. Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics. August 4-9, 2013. Natal, Brazil.
- Zardiackas, Lyle D., Kraay, Matthew J., Freese, Howard L, editors. Titanium, Niobium, Zirconium, and Tantalum for Medical and Surgical Applications ASTM special technical publication; 1471. Ann Arbor, MI: ASTM, Dec. 2005
Additional claim statements and support regarding Smith+Nephew implants and Robotics-assisted surgery
- Implants that are built to last
- LEGION◊CR Knee with VERILAST◊ technology was lab-tested for 45 million cycles (estimating 30 years of wear performance) and showed 81% less wear than similar 5-million cycle cobalt chrome implant.
- Learn More
- ISO 14243-3
- VERILAST knee wear testing and results apply only to the VERILAST LEGION CR Primary Knee System only. Extended lab-testing for other VERILAST knee systems have not been performed. The results of laboratory wear simulation testing have not been proven to predict actual joint durability and performance in people. A reduction in wear alone may not result in improved joint durability and performance because other factors, such as bone structure, can affect joint durability and performance and cause medical conditions that may result in the need for additional surgery. These other factors were not studied as part of the testing.
- Learn More
- Smith+Nephew implants may offer a more normal feeling knee
- Based on JOURNEY◊ II BCS knee implant
- Learn More
- Verstaete MA, Van Onsem S, Zambianchi F, et al. Multi-centre evaluation of knee kinematics during different activities for anatomic total knee design. Poster presented at: 2nd World Arthroplasty Congress; 19-21 April, 2018; Rome, Italy.
- Sharma A, Dessinger G, Cates H, Komistesk R. In vivo kinematic comparison for subjects having a bi-cruciate substituting TKA vs the normal knee. Poster presented at: 2nd World Arthroplasty Congress; 19-21 April, 2018; Rome, Italy.
- Kosse NM, Heesterbeek PJC, Defoort KC, Wymenga AB, van Hellemondt GG. Improved maximal flexion after minor adaptations in implant design bicruciate-substituted total knee arthroplasty. Poster presented at 19th Congress of the European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (EFORT); May 30 – June 1 2018; Barcelona, Spain.
- 89% of patients were able to take the stairs again after surgery.
- Based on JOURNEY◊ II BCS knee implant patients
- Iriuchishima T and Ryu K. Bicruciate substituting total knee arthroplasty improves stair climbing ability when compared with cruciate-retain or posterior stabilizing total knee arthroplasty. Indian J Orthop. 2019. DOI:10.4103/ortho.IJOrtho_392_18
- Based on JOURNEY◊ II BCS knee implant patients
- A robotics-assisted knee replacement with Smith+Nephew implants may get you back in the game six months sooner than traditional knee replacement surgery
- Based on UKA patients
- Canetti R, Batailler C, Bankhead C, Neyret P, Servien E, Lustig S. Faster return to sport after robotic-assisted lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: a comparative study. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2018;138(12):1765-1771
- Based on UKA patients
- Over 90% of patients who had a Smith+Nephew knee replacement surgery returned to work within 6 months.
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- Harris AI, Luo TD, Lang JE, Kopjar B. Short-term safety and effectiveness of a second-generation motion-guided total knee system. Arthroplast Today. 2018;4:240–243. 1
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- Robotics-assisted surgery with Smith+Nephew implants may lead to a faster rehabilitation and shorter recovery time than traditional knee surgery when following your doctor’s recovery plan and physical therapy recommendations.
- Claim 19 & 20 (PCS REC.015)
- Due to its improved accuracy, Smith+Nephew robotics-assisted UKA has lower revision rates* compared to conventional techniques
- Shown in clinical studies with follow-up of up to 5.5 years
- Batailler C, White N, Ranaldi FM, Neyret P, Servien E, Lustig S. Improved implant position and lower revision rate with robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2019;27(4):1232-1240.
- Battenberg AK, Netravali NA, Lonner JH. A novel handheld robotic-assisted system for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: surgical technique and early survivorship. J Robot Surg. 2019;14(1):55-60.
- Gregori A. 5 Yr Experience Semi Active Robotic Partial Knee Replacement: The Financial Impact. Poster presented at: SICOT;October, 2018; Montreal, Canada.
- Shown in clinical studies with follow-up of up to 5.5 years
- A study has shown Smith+Nephew robotic technology has demonstrated faster return to sport (4.2 vs 10.5 months) when compared to conventional techniques*
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- *n= 28 (n=11 robotic procedures), p<0.01
- Canetti R, Batailler C, Bankhead C, Neyret P, Servien E, Lustig S. Faster return to sport after robotic-assisted lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: a comparative study. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2018;138(12):1765-1771
- *n= 28 (n=11 robotic procedures), p<0.01
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- Robotics-assisted surgery with Smith+Nephew implants may help patient get discharged sooner
- Study of UKA patients
- Sephton BM, et al. EKS Arthroplasty Conference. May 2-3, 2019; Valencia, Spain.
- Shearman AD, et al. EKS Arthroplasty Conference. May 2-3, 2019; Valencia, Spain.
- Study of UKA patients
- Robotics-assisted surgery with Smith+Nephew implants may provide patients with a smoother recovery
- Based on JOURNEY II family of implants
- Mayman DJ, Patel AR, Carroll KM. Hospital Related Clinical and Economic Outcomes of a Bicruciate Knee System in Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients. Poster presented at: ISPOR Symposium; May 19-23, 2018; Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
- Based on JOURNEY II family of implants
- Robotics-assisted surgery with Smith+Nephew implants may help patients regain function faster
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- Shearman AD, et al. EKS Arthroplasty Conference. May 2-3, 2019; Valencia, Spain.
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Additional statements and support regarding Knee Replacement
- More than 90% of people who have knee replacement surgery experience dramatic relief in knee pain and are better able to perform common activities.
- Based on pre-surgical pain levels
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon website, http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm
- Based on pre-surgical pain levels
- The majority of patients experience profound improvements in their physical activity after having knee replacement surgery.
- Based on pre-surgical activity levels
- Brandes M, et. al., “Changes in physical activity and health-related quality of life during the first year after total knee arthroplasty.” Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1991 Dec;(273):151-6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20981812 Accessed Wednesday, April 17, 2019
- Based on pre-surgical activity levels