Total knee arthroplasty has become a common surgical intervention in cases of widespread deformation of the knee joint due to the progress of arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, and is now considered the method of choice for these patients. TKA is based on removing the destroyed parts of the knee and replacing them with new metal or plastic elements. It is commonly stated that TKA is a process of replacing an old destroyed joint with a new artificial one. In the present study, the authors show the types of knee prostheses and how they are installed. Emphasis is placed on the rules for prosthesis selection in relation to the level of the knee joint disease, especially the level of the destruction of anatomical structures. The authors also present the indications for surgical intervention, as well as preoperative procedures.