Are you experiencing frequent knee pain?
If knee pain troubles you every single day of your life and the conservative treatments have given you little or no relief, then it is recommended to go for a Total Knee Replacem
Does your knee pain hamper your daily activities?
The daily activities that you used to perform so easily earlier have become a hard task now because of knee pain? If you are avoiding going out because of your knee pain? You are facing difficulty in doing regular work, simple activities like going to washroom and walking in home is troubling you? If any answer is YES you need to see the doctor
Does your knee ache during and after exercise?
If you are avoiding your morning walk because of knee pain. if it’s ‘legs day’ in the gym, but you can barely lift your knees for even the simplest of movements. Or you’re simply tired after just one set of exercises, then there is something wrong with your knee cartilage and you need to consult orthopaedician as soon as possible.
A decreased range of motion in knee?
With degeneration of cartilage from joint and formation of new bone (osteophytes) Range of motion gradually decreases leading to difficulty in squatting and cross leg sitting.
Total knee replacement is a surgery in which articular surfaces of both bones are replaced with artificial components. For thigh bone (femur) component is metallic while for leg bone (tibia) component is cross linked polyethylene spacer with metallic base plate. Knee cap (patella) can be replaced by using polyethylene component whenever needed.
Pre operative preparation and precautions
As knee replacement is a planned surgery we usually get blood investigations, ECG, Physician fitness done before surgery. We also evaluate to minimize sources of infection in the body.
If you are on any blood thinners like Aspirin, Warfarin or Clopidogrel , these medicines needs to be stopped atleast 5 days before surgery as per physician advise.
Pain and stiffness are common symptoms.
Osteoarthritis of knee cannot be cured or reversed, but appropriate treatment can help in relieving symptoms and delay progression.
Walking, swimming and water aerobics can be done in patients of osteoarthritis. Thigh muscle exercises (quadriceps strengthening exercises) usually help patients.
Squatting, high impact sports, running are better to be avoided.
Climbing stairs usually increases pain.
Yes, It is a major surgery.
Patients are usually ambulated in a day after surgery depending on pain and medical condition.
Patients usually take upto 3 months for pain and swelling to settle.
Surgery is usually done under suitable anaesthesia. Patient may feel pain once anaesthesia wears off , but it can be reduced significantly by various modalities.
Usual hospital stay is around 3 days for single knee and around 5-7 days if both knees are operated.