Doctor’s advice
Knee replacement
Knee replacement surgery (arthroplasty) is a standard operation that involves replacing a damaged, worn or diseased knee with an artificial joint.
Total knee replacement surgery is a modern orthopaedic operative method to replace worn-out and damaged knees with artificial joints. Numerous types of research reveal high successful surgery rates of total knee replacements still functioning well after 10 years.
When a knee replacement is needed?
Knee replacement surgery is usually indicated when the knee joint is damaged, causing daily mobility irritation and debilitating pain.
The most common reason for knee replacement surgery is degenerative osteoarthritis in old age between 60 and 80 although there are other morbidities that render severe knee damage, comprising:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Gout
- Avascular Necrosis of Bone
- Traumatic Knee Injury
Who is offered knee replacement surgery?
A knee replacement is major surgery, it deserves as a last resort when other treatments such as physiotherapy and NSAIDs failed to control the pain or improve mobility.
You may be offered knee replacement surgery if:
- You have severe pain, swelling and stiffness in your knee joint that interfere with daily mobility and work.
- Your knee pain is so severe that it interferes with your quality of life and sleep.
- Pain is so severe that prevents self-care.
.
Types of knee replacement surgery
There are 2 main types of surgery:
- Total knee replacement – both sides of your knee joint are replaced.
- Partial knee replacement – only 1 side of your joint is replaced in a smaller operation with a shorter hospital stay and recovery period.
Other surgery options
There are other types of surgery which are an alternative to knee replacement if the knee condition is not too severe. Your doctor will discuss the best treatment option with you. Other types of surgery may include:
- Arthroscopic washout and debridement – a tiny (arthroscope) is inserted into the knee, which is then washed out with saline to clear inflammatory tissue.
- Osteotomy – the surgeon cuts the tibia bone and realigns it so that your weight is no longer carried by the damaged part of the knee.
- Mosaicplasty – a keyhole operation that involves transferring plugs of hard cartilage, together with some underlying bone from another part of your knee, to repair the damaged surface.
Recovery from knee replacement surgery
Patients usually stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 days, but recovery times can vary.
The hospital will advise the patient about self-care and strengthening exercises at home on discharge. Normally patients need to walk with a stable frame for the first 2 weeks w for while waiting for the knee muscle to strengthen most people stop using walking aids after 2 weeks and are able to start after 1 month.
The risk of knee replacement surgery
Knee replacement surgery is a common operation and most people do not have complications. However, as with any operation, there are risks as well as benefits.
Complications are rare but can include:
- Risk of developing infection either wound or inside the joint.
- Unexpected bleeding into the knee joint that regime transfusion occasionally.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
- Ligament, artery or nerve damage in the area around the knee joint.
- Stiffness of the knee if the patient does not complain of physiotherapy exercise at the beginning.
- Latrogenic fracture during surgery.
- Loosery of implants.