Tinnitus 911 Knee joint replacement or endoprosthetics, is a last resort for most patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee. Tinnitus 911 During this procedure, a surgeon removes the damaged joint and replaces it with a plastic and metal device. Side effects of this surgery are infections at the incision site and blood clots. Tinnitus 911 The recovery from this process takes several weeks or months and requires extensive physical and occupational therapy. It is possible that replacing your arthritic knee will not be the end of your OA knee problems. You may need more surgery or even another knee replacement during your lifetime, but with the newer knee, it can take decades.