Why would someone need to have a knee replacement?
Common indications of knee replacement include:
What conditions can a knee replacement treat?
Knee replacement treats painful mobility due to arthritis or injury, knee damage, and knee deformities.
Different Types of Knee Replacement
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Total Knee Replacement (TKR): In this surgical procedure, a diseased joint is replaced with an artificial joint and is recommended for osteoarthritis patients.
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Partial Knee Replacement: Only damaged parts of the knee are replaced to restore the movements and functionality of the damaged compartments of the knee.
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Kneecap Replacement: This surgical procedure treats knee osteoarthritis affecting the patellofemoral compartment anterior aspect of the knee.
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Complex/Revision Knee Replacement: This is done to correct the position of the already installed knee prosthesis. Due to inflammation, the operated knee joint may become loose requiring revisional knee replacement.
Requirements & Evaluation: Knee replacement surgery
The following are important requirements and evaluations while planning knee replacement surgery:
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Medical history: Information is collected regarding general health, history of knee pain, trauma, comorbidities, swelling, numbness, etc.
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Physical examination. It is important to assess knee motion, stability, and strength.
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X-rays.
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Other investigations: MRI, chest X-ray.
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Expectations from surgery and rehabilitation
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Type of implants: Generally implants used are NexGen LPS from Zimmer, Oxinium implants from Smith and Nephew, Vanguard from Biomet, F.C. from Depuy Synthes (Johnson and Johnson), and Scorpio NRG from Stryker.
Knee Replacement Procedure
Before the Procedure
A knee replacement surgeon performs a thorough evaluation of medical history and reviews diagnostic reports like Blood tests, Urine tests, ECG, and X-rays. Additional tests may be advised based on requirements and the patient's condition.
Patients discuss all the alternative therapies and the duration they have taken before. Doctors explain all the risks and benefits of the case-specific treatment-related information
After the Procedure
After knee replacement surgery, pain-relieving medications are given. The knee replacement team regularly monitors the patient’s condition. The length of hospital stay is 5-7 days.
The patient has to take 15-20 physiotherapy sessions. Regular follow-ups are advisable. One should follow the instructions thoroughly given by the surgeon.
What kind of follow-up care will I have during recovery?
Take medications on time and take regular follow-ups. Maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow instructions given by the doctor. In case of any discomfort, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Risk & Benefits
Robotic knee replacement surgery has fewer complications and is a minimally invasive procedure. The risk of bleeding, infection, and DVT is very less with this advanced knee replacement surgery. Overall, knee replacement is a safe procedure and is highly preferred by those looking for treatment for long-standing chronic knee pain.
Recovery
Recovery time depends upon many factors including the patient's general health, disease severity, type of implant used, type of surgery (unilateral or bilateral), and post-operative care. The patients usually recover within 30-45 days of knee replacement surgery.
