What Should I Do If Im Considering Knee Replacement Surgery
Getting a knee replacement is a big decision. If you think its time to start the discussion,;make an appointment with an orthopedic doctor.
A doctor will talk with you about your symptoms, medical history, and goals, examine your knees, review any X-rays or imaging tests youve had done, and work with you to determine if a knee replacement is your best care option.
At TRIA, our;orthopedic surgeons;are among the best in the Midwest. Were committed to providing accurate diagnoses and expert answers to help you decide whats best for you. Well never push you toward surgery. If we dont think its the right time for you to get a knee replacement, well talk to you about non-surgical knee treatment options that may help reduce or heal pain, and improve your knee function.
Which Type Should I Have
Your surgeon will discuss this with you. It will depend on how much of your knee is affected by arthritis – it may not be possible to know this until your surgeon has started your operation.
If you have a partial knee replacement it is more likely that you will need to have it done again, than if you have a total knee replacement . Sometimes the reason for choosing to have a partial knee replacement is that it leaves the option to have a TKR at a later date. However it’s also more likely that you will need to have your total knee replacement re-done, if you had a partial knee replacement done before having your total knee replacement.
There are over 150 different designs of knee replacement and some of the differences between all the different types and makes of knee replacement parts aren’t known, particularly how they perform in the long term. In many countries, registries have been set up so that anyone who has had a knee replacement is entered into the register. The information collected is used to monitor how their replacement is performing. In the UK, patients also enter information about their health and quality of life before and after their operation.
A study of over 500 patients with osteoarthritis of the inner part of their knee has compared the effectiveness of total and partial knee replacement. The two groups were followed up five years after surgery, and asked to complete questionnaires about pain, activity and day-to-day living.
Are You A Candidate For Knee Replacement
To determine the most appropriate knee replacement surgery for you, our knee surgeons consider a wide range of factors, including severity of symptoms, overall health and response to previous treatment.
If you are experiencing the following, surgery may be advised.
- Severe pain that prevents you from participating in everyday activities
- Have weakness in your knee and cannot move it fully
- If your symptoms dont improve with non-surgical treatments
For those who may have been diagnosed with advanced osteoarthritis, the condition of your knee joints will determine your surgical options. Surgery on the knee is common for severe osteoarthritis with a high success rate.
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What Activities Will I Be Able To Engage In
Most patients require an assistive device for approximately 3 weeks after knee replacement surgery although this varies significantly from patient to patient.
You will also be able to do low-impact exercise such as riding a stationary bike, walking, and swimming after 68 weeks. Your physical therapist can advise you on introducing new activities during this time.
You should avoid running, jumping, as well as other high-impact activities.
Discuss with your orthopedic surgeon any questions concerning your activities.
Surgical Treatment Of Knee Pain
Partial knee replacement: The surgeon replaces the damaged portions of the knee with plastic and metal parts.
Total knee replacement: In this procedure, the knee is replaced with an artificial joint. It requires a major surgery and hospitalization.
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Getting Back To Normal
It will be some weeks before you recover from your operation and start to feel the benefits of your new knee joint. Make sure you have no major commitments including long-haul air travel for the first six weeks after the operation.
Keeping up your exercises will make a big difference to your recovery time. Youll probably need;painkillers as the exercise can be painful at first. Gradually youll be able to build up the exercises to strengthen your muscles so that you can move more easily.
Looking For Alternatives To Total Knee Replacements
We’re also funding research which is investigating alternative approaches to total knee replacement. For example, total knee replacement is not recommended for many young people. This study aims to develop a new method called ToKa®, which uses images of;the patient’s joint and specially designed software to design a patient specific implant that will be made via 3D printing. If successful, this technique could prevent osteoarthritis patients from needing total joint replacement.
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Recovering From Knee Replacement Surgery
For the majority of people knee replacements are very successful. There is a lot of evidence from research showing that patients have less pain and are much more mobile after surgery and this often greatly improves their quality of life. Outcomes are getting better too, as more research is carried out on what the best operation is and how to reduce the risk of complications.
However about 8 people out of 100 are unhappy with their knee replacement 2-17 years later. If they have had to have their knee replaced a second time , they are twice as likely to be unhappy with the outcome.
When Should I Seek Medical Attention After Knee Replacement
After you go home, call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following symptoms:
- Chest pain and/or shortness of breath.
- Fever higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit .
- Incision problems, like bleeding, leaking, swelling, redness or odor.
- Pain in your calf, ankle or foot that is new and gets worse.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
If you have severe knee pain but medications and therapy arent helping, knee replacement may provide the answer. This common and effective surgery can reduce pain and get you back to everyday activities. Talk to your healthcare provider or an orthopedic provider about whether knee arthroplasty is a good option for you.
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Knee Cap Replacement Information
Knee Cap Replacement is a type of partial knee replacement surgery in which only patellofemoral articulation is replaced with implants.
To understand this surgical procedure we have to understand knee anatomy first.
If you see lower end of femur it has a groove for patella called patellofemoral groove. This is the place where patella or knee cap glides over femur smoothly.
In many of knee pain cases when knee pain diagnosis is done, patient come to know that they have knee cap arthritis or patelloemoral arthritis.In this case under-surface of patella has arthritic changes and when it glides on patellofemoral groove it causes arthritic knee pain under knee cap.
When it is severe enough to hamper day to day life patient has to think about operation.
Commonest symptoms for Kneecap arthritis:
- pain on kneeling
- Bending knee can be painful as well
Strangely normal walking can be uneventful.
Thorough knee pain diagnosis should be done to rule out any other knee injuries.
Looking After Your Knee Replacement
Your new knee will continue to improve for as much as two years after your operation as the scar tissue heals and;you exercise your muscles. You’ll need to look after yourself and pay attention to any of the following problems:
Stiffness Sometimes the knee can become very stiff in the weeks after the operation for no obvious reason. Try placing your foot on the first or second step of the stairs, hold on to the banister and lean into your knee. This should help to improve movement and flexibility in your knee. Its very important to continue with the exercises you were working on in the hospital.If the stiffness doesnt improve after about six weeks your surgeon may need to move or manipulate your knee. This will be done under anaesthetic.
Pain Pain caused by bruising from the operation is normal in the first two months, and you’ll probably still need to take;painkillers at six weeks to help you sleep through the night. You may still have some pain for as long as six months. If you still have pain after this, speak to your;physiotherapist or GP.
Infection You should speak to your GP or hospital if you notice any signs of infection, for example:
- breakdown of;the wound with oozing/pus or sores
- increased pain
- redness and the affected area feeling warmer than usual or smelling unpleasant.
You should also look after your feet see a doctor or;podiatrist if you notice any problems such as ingrown toenails that could become infected.
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Start Exercises To Strengthen Your Body Before Surgery
Strengthening and conditioning your body before surgery can help your recovery in a number of ways. Strengthening your upper body, for example, can make it easier to use assistive devices like crutches or wheelchairs.
Exercising in the lead up to knee replacement surgery can also lead to weight loss, which can help ease pressure on your knees before and after the procedure. In fact, studies show losing one pound of weight can relieve four pounds of pressure on the knees.
As for the kind of exercises you can do before knee replacement surgery, lower impact exercises and activities like biking or swimming can be good candidates especially if youre in pain.
When Is Joint Replacement Surgery Necessary
A joint disorder can cause pain, stiffness, and a loss of function and mobility in the knee joint. Over time, this can become increasingly disabling, preventing a person from carrying out even simple day-to-day activities. Joint damage can result from a number of factors, including aging, wear and tear, injuries, and conditions such as osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a common type of arthritis that causes the protective cartilage that lines the joints to wear away gradually. It can result in pain, stiffness, and inflammation, and often affects weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips.
Nonsurgical treatment methods such as medication, cortisone injections, physical therapy, and platelet-rich plasma therapy, can help relieve pain associated with joint disorders, but if they no longer provide symptom relief, joint replacement surgery may be recommended.
Joint replacement surgery involves replacing all or part of a joint with prosthetic components. They are designed to replicate a natural, healthy joint as much as possible, allowing normal activities to be resumed once fully healed. With advances in technology and surgical techniques, it now means joint replacement procedures are becoming more popular and successful than in previous years, with a faster recovery and less risk of complications.
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Is A Knee Replacement Right For Me
Your consultant may recommend a knee replacement if:
- your knee pain is so severe that you cant sleep at night
- youre having trouble walking
- youve tried alternative treatments;and they havent helped
While most people who have a knee replacement are between 60 and 80 with the average age at 69 years many younger patients also benefit from surgery.
The decision to carry out a knee replacement is made jointly between you, your GP and your surgeon. There’s almost never an absolute indication for knee replacement surgery, but ultimately the decision is yours.
Recognizing The Signs Of A Blood Clot
Follow your orthopaedic surgeon’s instructions carefully to reduce the risk of blood clots developing during the first several weeks of your recovery. He or she may recommend that you continue taking the blood thinning medication you started in the hospital. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop any of the following warning signs.
Warning signs of blood clots. The warning signs of possible blood clots in your leg include:
- Increasing pain in your calf
- Tenderness or redness above or below your knee
- New or increasing swelling in your calf, ankle, and foot
Warning signs of pulmonary embolism. The warning signs that a blood clot has traveled to your lung include:
- Sudden shortness of breath
- Sudden onset of chest pain
- Localized chest pain with coughing
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Can I Avoid Or Postpone A Knee Replacement
The choice on whether to have surgery to address arthritis of the knee joint depends on multiple factors, including:
- the condition of the knee joint
- the patientâs age and activity level
In cases where the damage from arthritis is minimal, and/or if the patient does not have a very active lifestyle, nonsurgical treatments by be tried, including:
- physical therapy
- , such as ibuprofen
- weight loss to reduce pressure on the knee
How Long Is The Recovery
All patients heal from surgery at their own pace. Your doctor will tell you when it is safe to go back to your normal activities. Here are some guidelines:
- Household chores: 3-6 weeks
- Work: 4 weeks or more- depending on your job requirements
- Swimming: 6-8 weeks
- Driving: Before you can drive, will need to be off pain medicine and be abele to get in and out of the car. You may be able to start driving within 2 to 6 weeks–even if your driving leg was operated on.
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Technical Details Of Total Knee Replacement
Total knee replacement surgery begins by performing a sterile preparation of the skin over the knee to prevent infection. This is followed by inflation of a tourniquet to prevent blood loss during the operation.
Next, a well-positioned skin incision–typically 6-7 in length though this varies with the patients size and the complexity of the knee problem–is made down the front of the knee and the knee joint is inspected.
Next, specialized alignment rods and cutting jigs are used to remove enough bone from the end of the femur , the top of the tibia , and the underside of the patella to allow placement of the joint replacement implants. Proper sizing and alignment of the implants, as well as balancing of the knee ligaments, all are critical for normal post-operative function and good pain relief. Again, these steps are complex and considerable experience in total knee replacement is required in order to make sure they are done reliably, case after case. Provisional implant components are placed without bone cement to make sure they fit well against the bones and are well aligned. At this time, good function–including full flexion , extension , and ligament balance–is verified.
Finally, the bone is cleaned using saline solution and the joint replacement components are cemented into place using polymethylmethacrylate bone cement. The surgical incision is closed using stitches and staples.
Anesthetic
Length of total knee replacement surgery
Pain and pain management
Protecting Your Knee Implant
You can extend the life of your knee implant by doing several things. After surgery, use a cane or walker until your balance improves — taking a fall can cause serious damage to a new joint. High-impact exercise can also take a toll on knee implants, so most doctors warn against jogging, jumping, and contact sports.
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When Can I Get Back To My Everyday Activities After Knee Arthroplasty
Your doctor will give you specific instructions. But many people can get back to their everyday activities three to six weeks after surgery.
Your healthcare provider will give you specific instructions about recovery. You will gradually increase activity, starting with a slow walking program. You will be encouraged to stand, climb stairs and perform other normal household activities as soon as possible.
Ial Vs Total Knee Replacement Surgery: What You Need To Know
Are you part of the .2%? Each year, thousands of people in the United States have knee replacement surgery about 600,000 to be exact, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Robert L. DeMaagd, MD, specialist with the Total Joint Center at Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan, sees his fair share. I do close to 300 knee replacements each year, says Dr. DeMaagd. That includes both partial and total replacements.
Who is a candidate for knee replacement? According to Dr. DeMaagd, most knee replacement patients are between 55-75 years old. Typically knee replacement surgery is done for chronic osteoarthritis of the knee joint that has not been successfully treated with non-operative means like medication, bracing, injections, and physical therapy, he explains. Arthritis is an inherited trait, so for most people, its just a genetic wearing out of the joint.
Time to move on Many of these non-operative treatments can be good for mild to moderate arthritis, and you can go for years without joint replacement surgery, Dr. DeMaagd says. But after a while, those measures just dont work. You have to move on to something else. Thats when patients typically contact OAM. If the knee pain and stiffness are affecting a patients quality of life or getting in the way of normal daily activity, the patient is probably a good candidate for a knee replacement, says Dr. DeMaagd.
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What Patients Should Consider A Total Knee Replacement
Total knee replacement surgery is considered for patients whose knee joints have been damaged by either progressive arthritis, trauma, or other rare destructive diseases of the joint. The most common reason for knee replacement in the United States is severe osteoarthritis of the knees.
Regardless of the cause of the damage to the joint, the resulting progressively increasing pain and stiffness and decreasing daily function lead the patient to consider total knee replacement. Decisions regarding whether or when to undergo knee replacement surgery are not easy. Patients should understand the risks as well as the benefits before making these decisions about knee replacement.