Total Knee Replacement Surgery

What is total knee replacement?

Total knee replacement, commonly referred to as total knee arthroplasty, is a surgical technique wherein artificial (prosthetic) pieces are used to replace certain knee joint components. One option for treating pain and regaining function in an arthritic knee is total knee replacement. The most frequent justification for knee replacement is the failure of previous therapies (weight loss, exercise/physical therapy, medications, injections, and bracing) to ease knee discomfort brought on by arthritis.

• Knee replacement surgery (arthroplasty) is a common operation that involves replacing a damaged, worn or diseased knee with an artificial joint.
• The goal of knee replacement surgery is to resurface the parts of the knee joint that have been damaged and to relieve knee pain that cannot be controlled by other treatments.
• Types of knee replacement surgery
  There are 2 main types of surgery:
  Total knee replacement – both sides of your knee joint are replaced
  Partial (half) knee replacement – only 1 side of your joint is replaced
  

Why Is It Done Knee Replacement?

Relieving pain, enhancing quality of life, and maintaining or enhancing knee function are the aims of knee replacement. All ages, with the exception of children whose bones are still growing, are candidates for the surgery. Prior to considering this operation, you must be in extreme pain and/or be disabled.

Who Is It For Knee replacement ?

You can consider total knee replacement if you have:

• The mating surfaces of the joint have been significantly harmed by knee arthritis or a knee injury.
• You find it difficult to perform daily tasks like getting in and out of a car or walking up and down stairs due to pain and stiffness
• Rest and medication do not make swelling and inflammation go away
• Your knee appears abnormally shaped or enlarged
• You have severe pain, swelling, and stiffness in your knee joint, and your mobility is reduced
• Your knee pain is so severe that it interferes with your quality of life and sleep
• Everyday tasks, such as shopping or getting out of the bath, are difficult or impossible
• You are feeling depressed because of the pain and lack of mobility
• You cannot work or have a social life

Anatomy

• The knee is made up of the lower end of the thigh bone (femur), the upper end of the shinbone (tibia), and the kneecap (patella).
• The ends of these three bones are covered with articular cartilage, a smooth substance that protects the bones and enables them to move easily within the joint.
• Large ligaments hold the femur and tibia together and provide stability. The long thigh muscles give the knee strength.
• Normally, all of these components work together. But disease or injury can disturb this component, resulting in pain, muscle weakness, and reduced function.

Causes

• Osteoarthritis: Age-related arthritis of this kind is brought on by the usual degradation of the knee joint. Patients over the age of 50 are most commonly affected, while it can also affect younger persons. Osteoarthritis is brought on by joint cartilage breakdown, inflammation, and eventual cartilage loss. The bones scrape against one another as the cartilage deteriorates over time. In order to make up for this, the bones frequently thicken, but this causes extra friction and discomfort.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: Also known as inflammatory arthritis, causes the knee joints lining to thicken and swell. Chronic inflammation erodes cartilage, resulting in stiffness and pain.
• Post-traumatic arthritis: An extreme knee injury is the cause of this kind of arthritis. The knee cartilage will be impacted if the ligaments or the bones around the knee break.

Advantages

1. Pain Relief
   Knee surgery gets rid of knee pain you feel when walking, running, standing, or even when you are sitting or lying down.
2. Improved mobility
   Significant knee pain can restrict you from walking even short distances while moderate knee pain interferes with your ability to take care of your family or do a good job at work.
3. Better treatment response
   Knee surgery may be a good option if chronic knee inflammation and swelling do not get better with rest, medication, or other treatments. Knee surgery reduces your need for medications, physical therapy, and other surgeries.
4. High success and satisfaction rates
   It is a safe and effective procedure with a success rate as high as 97-98 percent. To safeguard the replacement joint in the long run, you may still experience some discomfort and need to restrict high-impact activity. However, a knee replacement can significantly reduce your pain and improve your mobility. 15 years following surgery, more than 90% of patients who had a total knee replacement are still in good health.

The Orthopedic Evaluation

• Your doctor will explain the procedure to you and offer you the opportunity to ask any questions that you might have about the procedure.
• You will be asked to sign a consent form that gives your permission to do the procedure. Read the form carefully and ask questions if something is not clear.
• In addition to complete medical history, your doctor may perform a complete physical examination to ensure you are in good health before undergoing the procedure. You may undergo blood tests or other diagnostic tests.
• Notify your doctor if you are sensitive to or are allergic to any medications.
• Notify your doctor of all medications and supplements that you are taking.
• Based on your medical condition, your doctor may request other specific preparation.

Types of total knee replacement surgery

Total knee replacement (TKR): Replacement of both knee joints during surgery is necessary. The process is by far the most common surgery procedure.

The length of a surgery is one to three hours. However, there may be scar tissue, which may make it difficult to move or bend the knees. The person will have less pain and better mobility.

Partial knee replacement (PKR): Only one side of the knee joint is replaced during partial replacement. The incision is smaller since less bone is taken, but it does not last as long as a complete replacement.

People who simply have knee injuries in one area can benefit from PKR. Recovery after surgery is simpler, there is less blood loss, and the danger of infection and blood clots is reduced.

Deciding factors for knee replacement surgery

• Age of the patient
• The degree of osteoarthritis (OA) seen on radiographs
• The intensity of the patients symptoms

RECOVERY AND REHABILITATION

Recovery in Hospital

Pain Management

It includes taking medicines to get rid of pain and injections can be used in case of severe discomfort.

Physical Therapy

It involves joint mobilization which helps in the movement of the joint, ambulation is assisted walking helping the patient in their recovery and exercises to provide strength and stamina to muscles.

Blood Clot Prevention

Make sure to move around as much as possible. Moving around lowers your chance of developing a blood clot. Use of compression stockings. These can help prevent leg swelling. The use of DVT pumps to help blood flow from the veins in the leg toward the heart and blood thinner medicines that prevent blood from clotting.

Preventing infections: The use of antibiotics and wound care helps in preventing infection.

Recovery at Home

Wound Care-dressing of the wound as advised by your doctor Physical Therapy-You may require the help of a therapist for a few weeks Medications for pain relief, blood clot formation, and preventing infection.

Complications

The majority of knee joint operations are problem-free but some may have complications. Most of these complications are minor and can be successfully treated.

• Knee Implant Loosening
• Prolonged Pain
• Stiffness
• Wound infection
• Instability and Dislocation
• Misalignment and Failure

Why choose Neem Tree?

Meet The Happy Patients

Knee Replacement Surgery/Surgeon In Delhi/NCR and Get Expert Knee Replacement Specialist

Our proficient team of skilled and best knee replacement specialists, doctors/surgeons in Delhi, provide best-in-class treatment to ensure pain relief, improved mobility and a better quality of life. Our compassionate and immensely experienced panel of knee replacement specialists doctors/surgeons adhere to world-class technology for innovative care and seamless assistance for your speedy recovery.

Dr. Pankaj Bajaj

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Dr. Akhil Agnihhotri

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Dr. Ashish Pandey

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Dr. Kanak Arora

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Dr. Pradeep Kriplani

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Dr. Abhay Singh

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Dr. Robin Bohat

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Dr. Arun Ji

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Dr. Pradeep Sharma

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Dr Vijay Bansal

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FAQS

How do you know if you need a knee replacement?

One must consider knee replacement if pain due to arthritis:

-Persists despite medicines

-Pain increases on walking/activity

-Interferes with sleep

-Interferes with activities of daily living

How long will I have to stay in the hospital after knee replacement surgery?

If you undergo a knee replacement, you would be required to stay at the hospital for at least 3 6 days. But the recovery is likely to decide your total duration.

When can I take a bath after knee replacement surgery?

Several patients can take a bath on the next day of the surgery, but your doctor can instruct you to follow some instructions to keep the operated area fine. Patients need to follow some instructions.

How much does a knee replacement surgery cost?

Cost of the knee replacement surgery depends on

• Technique and equipments used
• Type of implant selected
• Requirement of additional corrections in the knee

Can both Knees be replaced at the same time?

Yes both the knees can be replaced at the same time if the medical condition of the patient is stable and all parameters are within the normal limits.

When can I walk after Total Knee Replacement (TKR)?

Depending on post operative status, most patients are able to walk within 1-2 days of total knee replacement.

Activity

• Exercise is a critical component of home care, particularly during the first few weeks after surgery. You should be able to resume most normal activities of daily living within 3 to 6 weeks following surgery.

Your activity program should include

• A graduated walking program to slowly increase your mobility, initially in your home and later outside
• Resuming other normal household activities, such as sitting, standing, and climbing stairs
• Specific exercises several times a day to restore movement and strengthen your knee. You probably will be able to perform the exercises without help, but you may have a physical therapist help you at home or in a therapy center the first few weeks after surgery.