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Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement | Posted on 08/22/2024 by Dr. Aashish K. Sharma
Total knee replacement is a procedure in which a damaged knee is replaced with a knee joint. This is often done to relieve pain and increase mobility for people with knee problems such as arthritis. Damaged parts of the knee are removed and replaced with metal and plastic parts to allow the knee to move more freely and make daily activities easier. If you are also struggling with knee problems, then book your appointment with the best Knee Replacement Surgeon In Jaipur of the at CK Birla Hospitals.
Knee replacement is a surgery where a damaged knee joint is replaced with an artificial one. It helps relieve pain, improve mobility and enhance overall quality of life.
Knee replacement surgery can be divided into three categories:
The location and severity of the knee injuries determine which procedure suits the best to the patient.
Total Knee Replacement (TKR) popularly known as arthroplasty is a surgical procedure to relieve pain and restore normal function in the severely ailing knee joint. The surgery resurfaces a knee damaged by injury or arthritis.
It involves separating the damaged bone and cartilage from the thighbone, shinbone, and kneecap and substituting it with an artificial joint called a prosthesis. This artificial joint is made of high-quality metal and high-grade plastics.
This surgery is recommended for patients who face extreme difficulty in taking any function from the knee joint such as climbing stairs, walking, sitting, or lying. Foremost, non-surgical methods such as medications and mobility aids such as walkers, sticks, etc. are used; if even after such methods, the functioning is hard and these methods prove unsuccessful, the doctors might recommend a total knee replacement in such cases.
A total knee replacement is an effective and safe procedure that enables the person to resume normal activity by correcting the leg deformity and relieving pain. With increasing advancements in technology and the medical field, a total knee replacement is considered one of the safest surgical procedures.
To ensure that total knee replacement is the best for you, the orthopaedic surgeon will analyse the knee’s motion ability, stability and strength. Conducts several tests including X-rays to determine the damage and assess the present condition.
The doctor might also run some tests on the blood and urine, and electrocardiogram to plan the surgery. The choice of prostheses and surgical techniques will depend on the person’s age, weight, activity level, overall health and the condition and shape of the knee.
The prime reason for a total knee replacement is severe pain because of osteoarthritis or injury. Both conditions might damage the knee joint, making simple movement and activities – such as walking, sitting, lying down, climbing stairs, getting up and sitting back, etc. difficult.
While a total knee replacement or knee surgery is a very safe surgical procedure, like all normal surgeries, this too is susceptible to some risks such as:
That said, the most common and likely to occur factor is an infection post-total knee replacement. A person suffering from infection after the surgery might have symptoms such as high fever, chills, shivering, swelling, leakage from the surgical area, tenderness, acute joint pain and increasing redness.
Apart from this, the artificial joint used to replace the original knee joint can also wear out causing the total knee replacement to fail. This happens over time when the artificial joint wears away due to excessive and stressful physical activity, weight lifting, etc.
Some of the essentials that one must know and take note of before deciding on the total knee replacement are:
The recovery from a total knee replacement is slow but effective. A knee replacement can last for 15 years if proper care is taken. You can resume everyday activities after three to six weeks post-procedure.
More strenuous activities such as swimming, golfing and biking, can be engaged after full recovery. For activities such as jogging, jumping, skiing, tennis and sports, consult your doctor before undertaking any activity that may stress the replaced knee.
During and after recovery, the doctor might advise you to undergo physical therapy to strengthen the replaced joints and maintain smooth movement. Keeping your unique needs in mind, special recommendations for diet, exercise, recovery and follow-ups may be provided. Total knee arthroplasty is a decision that should be made carefully, considering your current condition, needs and potential effects.
Pain varies but is manageable with medication. Most patients experience significant relief within weeks after surgery.
Most patients can walk unassisted within 4-6 weeks, though recovery times vary based on individual overall health and rehabilitation efforts.
Prepare by following your doctor’s instructions, arranging home assistance and doing pre-surgery exercises to strengthen your leg muscles.
