Total knee replacement · Tiffin, Ohio
Your natural knee, restored. With the precision and stability to keep it that way.
If knee pain has been calling the shots, there’s a different way forward — a knee replacement built entirely around your body, right here in Tiffin.
Call now419-443-6441- Local to Seneca County
- Fellowship-Trained
- Personalized to Your Knee
One procedure, personalized three ways
Not just a different skin incision.
Knee pain has a way of shrinking your world — the stairs you avoid, the walks you skip, the moments you miss. Our approach combines three of the most advanced technologies in orthopedics — Kinematic Alignment, MyKnee® personalized planning, and the Sphere® implant system — into one comprehensive solution built entirely around your unique anatomy, not a one-size-fits-all average.
The result? A knee that moves naturally, feels less “replaced,” and helps you forget surgery ever happened. And here’s the best part: you don’t have to drive to Cleveland, Columbus, or Lima to get it. Curious how it all works? Keep reading.
What makes this different
A different skin incision may help with short-term pain, but does not show any long-term benefits.
Other knee replacements may focus on sparing the muscles or tendons for a quicker recovery, but how your knee feels and functions a year from now depends largely on how well the implant is aligned to your anatomy. That’s why we prioritize kinematic alignment and careful implant placement, which aims to restore your knee’s natural kinematics. The surgical approach can influence the early weeks marginally, but alignment and placement are what shape your knee for the long run.
01
Kinematic Alignment
The worn surfaces are resurfaced around your individual anatomy, with the goal of preserving the ligament balance your knee already uses for stability.
02
MyKnee® Personalized Planning
CT scan is 3D reconstructed for patient-matched guides that are created and used during your procedure.
03
The Sphere® Implant System
The Sphere® implant’s ball-in-socket design is intended to support stability and natural motion as the knee bends, bears weight, and moves through everyday activities.
01 · Kinematic Alignment
Rebuilding your knee the way it was built. Not the way a textbook says it should be.
Everyone’s knee is shaped a little differently, including yours. Most knee replacements try to move your leg toward a generic, one-size-fits-all alignment. Kinematic Alignment does the opposite: We resurface the worn knee to match your individual anatomy, so the new joint is built around the way your knee has always worked.
So what actually happens in surgery?
We position the new joint surfaces around the way your knee was naturally built. Because we’re working with that alignment instead of against it, the ligaments that have kept your knee steady your whole life can keep doing their job — with little to no ligament release or adjustment.
It’s a technique built on precision — informed by your body’s own measurements and movement patterns rather than a generic template. Studies have shown that patients undergoing kinematically aligned knee replacement can report favorable function and a knee that feels more natural in daily life. Individual results vary.
What it means for you: a knee designed to feel less “replaced” and more like your own — and the freedom to get back to the life you love.
See kinematic alignment in action
02 · MyKnee® Personalized Planning
Your new knee is fully planned long before you ever reach the operating room.
Here’s how it works. Before your surgery, a CT or MRI captures the exact shape and structure of your knee — every contour that makes it yours. From those images, we build a complete surgical plan, and the instruments used on the day of surgery are made specifically for your knee rather than adjusted from a generic set as we go.
That means less guesswork in the operating room. Without having to make all of these measurements during surgery, it equates to a shorter surgery and less time under anesthesia.
For you, that precision can make all the difference. Because the instruments and the plan are matched to your individual anatomy, the goal is more accurate implant placement — helping your new knee sit and move the way your body intended. Patients often describe the result as a knee that feels less foreign and more like an extension of your own body — built around you, for you.
See how your MyKnee® plan comes together
03 · The Sphere® Implant System
The piece that keeps everything moving naturally.
The last piece is the implant itself. The Sphere® system is shaped and engineered to follow the way a healthy knee naturally moves — supporting stability as you bend it, put weight on it, and go about your day. Its anatomically shaped surfaces are built to give you confidence in the moments that matter — climbing stairs, gardening, simply standing up from a chair.
It’s the natural conclusion of the whole approach: your alignment is respected, your plan is built from your own anatomy, and your implant is designed to carry that same natural motion into the new joint for the long run.
And Sphere® is built to last. It’s engineered to handle the demands of daily life with durable, low-wear construction, helping your new knee stay strong and reliable for years to come — so you can stay active in the things you love, longer.
See how the Sphere® knee moves
Implant choice and surgical approach depend on your diagnosis, anatomy, health, and goals. We’ll review your options with you after an in-person exam and imaging.
Darin Nye, MD
Board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon
Why Dr. Nye, why Tiffin
Big-city expertise, without the drive.
Dr. Nye grew up right here in Seneca County, trained under the world-renowned Dr. James Andrews, and came home to bring that level of care to the people he grew up around. From your first visit, to surgery, to every follow-up appointment, everything happens locally — when travel is hardest and family is closest.
- Seneca County native
- Board-certified orthopedic surgeon
- Fellowship-trained
- Trained under Dr. James Andrews
Real patient stories
In their words.
“I pretty immediately felt the strength and the confidence in that knee, and other people noticed it as well.”
Heather came in with bone-on-bone pain that cortisone had stopped touching — at 50, she’s back on the ski slopes.
This is one patient’s personal experience. Results are not guaranteed and will vary based on several factors, including the patient’s general health and activity level prior to surgery.
“The first thing I noticed right coming out of surgery is I could walk without pain.”
After PRP and stem cells didn’t help, Jeff walked out of surgery without pain — and was back on skis eight weeks later.
This is one patient’s personal experience. Results are not guaranteed and will vary based on several factors, including the patient’s general health and activity level prior to surgery.
“The implant definitely makes me move naturally and feel better about everything.”
Jeff had both knees replaced and is back to fly fishing. His only regret, he says, is waiting as long as he did.
This is one patient’s personal experience. Results are not guaranteed and will vary based on several factors, including the patient’s general health and activity level prior to surgery.
Frequently asked questions
Start with the right questions.
What makes this approach different from a standard knee replacement?+
Your plan is built around your own anatomy rather than a generic alignment target. We’ll walk you through exactly what that means for your knee at your consultation.
What is recovery like?+
Recovery looks different for every patient, and depends on your health and activity level before surgery. Your care team in Tiffin will set expectations and guide each stage of rehabilitation.
How do I know if I’m a candidate?+
The best way to know is an in-person exam and X-ray with Dr. Nye. Call 419-443-6441 to schedule a consultation.
Is this covered by insurance?+
Coverage depends on your plan and diagnosis. Call the Tiffin office and our team will help you check your specific benefits before you commit to anything.
Do I need a referral to schedule a consultation?+
Requirements vary by insurance plan. Call 419-443-6441 and we’ll confirm what your plan needs.
What should I expect at my first appointment?+
Expect a conversation about your history and goals, a physical exam, and imaging if needed — then a clear explanation of your options, including non-surgical ones.
Ready to see if you’re a candidate?
The only way to know for sure is an in-person exam and X-ray with Dr. Nye. Give the Tiffin office a call — a real person will answer, and they’ll find a time that works for you.
419-443-6441NWO Orthopedics & Sports Medicine — Tiffin Campus
3101 W. US Highway 224, Tiffin, OH 44883
Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–5:00 PM