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Knee Replacement

Knee Replacement

knee-replacement

Total Knee Replacement is operation performed to relieve pain in arthritic knee.

With increase in life expectancy, more number of senior citizen demand a better quality of life. A painful knee can seriously hamper a person’s capacity to walk freely and make him dependent not only on drugs to relieve pain but also on others for mobility. Knee replacement relieves pain in severe arthritis. It is commonly done in patients suffering from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

What is Total Knee Replacement?

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.

FAQ

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.