Choose Regional Orthopedics For Your Knee Replacement Surgery
Knee replacement surgery can be a daunting prospect. However, learning about the process and how to prepare for it can set you up for a faster recovery time. That means you can get back to doing the activities you love sooner and more painlessly.
If you want to learn more about knee replacement surgery, talking with a professional can help. Regional Orthopedics knee replacement surgeons have served patients in Staten Island, New York City, Jersey City and the surrounding areas, and we can help you too.
If you are looking for a knee replacement surgeon in Staten Island, NYC or Jersey City, we can help. Contact iOrtho online today to schedule an appointment.
- 540 Bordentown Ave, 2nd FloorSouth Amboy, NJ 08879
What Are The Benefits Of Outpatient Knee Replacement
- More advanced care. Since outpatient centers are newer, these ambulatory facilities tend to be more technologically advanced. These centers tend to be run by innovative surgeons who practice with orthopedics latest and greatest techniques. In other words, you wont be operated on by a dinosaur in a cave with dated techniques .
- A greater focus on pre-op preparation. The more mentally, physically, and environmentally prepared you are for surgery, the lower your risk, the better your outcome, and faster your recovery. Outpatient surgery centers tend to invest more in prehab and encouraging patients to go into surgery with their best foot forward.
- Higher patient satisfaction.Studies suggest outpatient joint patients are more satisfied with their replacement and the care theyve received. Other studies found that staying longer in hospital is not what affects patient satisfaction.
- Lower rates of infection. The shorter the stay in a care facility, the lower the risk of hospital infections.
- Recover at-home. You can recovery in your own space where you are comfortable
Dr. Frisch explains, By going home the same day, you are really committing to using your new knee immediately. The result is that you start walking and performing your daily activities sooner than if you were to stay in the hospital. With the right preparation you will start to see the results and become more confident in your knee.
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How Is Knee Replacement Surgery Performed
Knee replacement surgery is the same idea as having most things fixedworn parts are taken out, and new parts are installed in their places. In knee surgery, the damaged portions of the knee bones are removed, and the knee is resurfaced with metal and plastic implants. Here’s what you can expect on a typical day of knee surgery:
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How Soon Will I Be Up And About
The staff will help you to get up and walk about as quickly as possible. If you have had minimally invasive surgery or are on an enhanced recovery programme, you may be able to walk on the same day as your operation. Generally, you will be helped to stand within 12-24 hours after your operation.
Walking with a frame or crutches is encouraged. Most people are able to walk independently with sticks after about a week but this can vary depending on the individual.
During your stay in hospital, a physiotherapist will teach you exercises to help strengthen your knee. You can usually begin these the day after your operation. It is important to follow the physiotherapist’s advice to avoid complications or dislocation of your new joint.
It is normal to experience initial discomfort while walking and exercising, and your legs and feet may be swollen.
You may be put on a passive motion machine to restore movement in your knee and leg. This support will slowly move your knee while you are in bed. It helps to decrease swelling by keeping your leg raised and helps improve your circulation.
Making The Knee Incision
The surgeon makes an incision across the front of your knee to gain access to the patella, more commonly referred to as the kneecap. In a traditional knee replacement, the incision is usually about 8 to 10 inches long. In minimally invasive knee surgery, the incision is usually about 4 to 6 inches long. The jury is still out as to whether or not the pros of the smaller scar outweigh the cons of a smaller surgical area. Talk to your doctor about which procedure is right for you.
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What Are The Risks Of Knee Replacement Surgery
Every surgical procedure comes with risk, but the complication rate following total knee replacement surgery is quite low. Fewer than 2% of patients experience serious complications following a knee replacement procedure. Even when they do, however, they are rarely life-threatening usually the only significant result is the prolonging of the recovery process. However, you should still be aware of these risks in the event that they occur during your surgery. Some of these risks include, but are not limited to:
If you have any concerns about these complications prior to your procedure, discuss them thoroughly with your orthopedic surgeon and see what steps you can take before and after your surgery to decrease any chances of complications.
What To Expect With Partial Or Total Knee Replacement Surgery
Partial or Total Knee Replacement surgery involves removing damaged portions of the knee and capping the bony surfaces with man-made prosthetic implants. The surgery repositions the knee into proper alignment and replicates the original function, allowing for a near normal range of motion for the patient.
During a consultation, we will discuss your needs and recommend a technique and prosthetic that is suitable for you and review the procedure including the risks, benefits, recovery and life after the procedure. It is important to remember that a partial or total knee replacement is major surgery. There is always going to be post-operative pain and swelling. Everyone reacts differently to surgery and anaesthetic and recovers differently, but in our experience, the techniques and protocols used by our surgeons and anaesthetists allows for faster rehabilitation to get you back to your old self.
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Knee Replacement Surgery Step
Surgical procedures differ depending on the patients needs and the surgeons approach, but generally the steps are as follows:
- General anesthesia
- A spinal nerve block, which will block sensation from the waist down, along with a relaxant
The type of anesthesia a patient receives is usually decided well ahead of time, but may be modified on the day of surgery based on a discussion between the patient and the anesthesiologist.
Dr Jaffes Belief On Outpatient Surgery
After more than 25 years as a joint replacement surgeon, Dr. Jaffe finds that patients are usually better off recovering from joint replacement surgery in the comfort of their own home. Like any surgery, the patient must meet certain criteria to qualify for the outpatient option. Typically if a patient is generally healthy and has a stable support system, they will be eligible to receive the surgery on an outpatient basis.
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Minimally Invasive Partial And Total Knee Replacement
Minimally invasive is a term used for any type of surgery that is less invasive than traditional or open surgery. Minimally invasive partial or total knee replacement surgeries are innovative procedures that can be as effective as traditional surgery.
Minimally invasive knee replacements use smaller and fewer incisions around the knee, and have been proven to reduce postoperative pain, minimize trauma to tissue, and quicken recovery time.
The most appropriate candidates for minimally invasive knee replacements have minimal or moderate deformity, maintain a healthy weight, have few pre-existing health conditions and are motivated to participate in the rehabilitation process.
Who Is A Candidate
Patients who have advanced arthritis of the knee and experience pain during weight-bearing activities, such as walking, standing, kneeling or squatting, may be good candidates for a total knee replacement. If a patient has failed to improve with conservative care options and still experiences pain that interferes with their lifestyle, it may be time to speak with an orthopaedic surgeon about their options.
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How Do I Manage Pain During My Recovery
You should consider a number of options for pain relief following knee surgery. These options should be discussed with a pain management specialist, who can explain the pros and cons of each option or combination of options, including effectiveness, potential side effects, potential for addiction, and impact on the recovery process. Physician anesthesiologists who specialize in pain management can work with you before and after surgery on a plan tailored to your condition, personal history, and preferences.
Some of the options to consider and discuss are:
- Analgesics such as acetaminophen . These act solely to relieve pain.
- Anti-inflammatory medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium. These act to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
- Peripheral nerve blocks. These involve the injection of an anesthetic into specific nerves to block pain signals between the brain and the knee.
- Opioids. These drugs, which block pain signals to the brain, are sometimes necessary to relieve severe or persistent pain, but patients should take them only as needed and use as low a dose as possible. Monitoring by a pain management specialist is important because opioids can be addictive.
- Multimodal therapy. This is commonly used for pain management after knee replacement surgery and typically involves opioids and one or more additional pain relief methods. Multimodal therapy can improve pain control while limiting opioid use.
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.
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How To Prepare For Knee Replacement
There are certain steps that can improve your recovery time and results. It is important to follow your knee replacement surgeonâs instructions both before and after surgery, as well as that of your rehabilitation therapistâs recommendations. Learn more about reparing for knee replacement by reading .
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.
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What Does Total Knee Replacement Involve
Each total knee replacement procedure is tailored to the individual needs of the patient and may vary from case to case. The general steps involved with a total knee arthroplasty include:
- Administering regional anesthesia and a sedative so you are comfortable throughout surgery
- Making an incision along the front of the knee to access the knee joint
- Removing damaged cartilage and bone from the knee joint and preparing the area for the implant
- Securing the components of the knee implant into their proper placement
- Fitting the new components together and closing the incision
Risks Of The Procedure
As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur. Some possiblecomplications may include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Bleeding
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Blood clots in the legs or lungs
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Loosening or wearing out of the prosthesis
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Fracture
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Continued pain or stiffness
The replacement knee joint may become loose, be dislodged, or may not workthe way it was intended. The joint may have to be replaced again in thefuture.
Nerves or blood vessels in the area of surgery may be injured, resulting inweakness or numbness. The joint pain may not be relieved by surgery.
There may be other risks depending on your specific medical condition. Besure to discuss any concerns with your doctor prior to the procedure.
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What To Expect During Your Knee Replacement Surgery
Total knee replacement is performed while you are under general anesthesia. First, the surgeon makes an incision in the front of your knee and removes the damaged cartilage of your joint from the surface of your bones. Next, he or she shapes these surfaces so they can hold metal or plastic artificial joint components.
Then, an artificial knee is inserted into the area and attached to the femur , tibia , and kneecap , using a special material. The undersurface of the kneecap may also be cut and resurfaced, and finally, a spacer is placed between the components so they can move and glide easily.
You will go to a recovery room while your anesthesia wears off, and you will be monitored. If your total knee replacement is performed on an outpatient basis, you will be released the day of your procedure to recover from home after you are cleared to do so by your surgeon. Otherwise, you may have a short hospital stay.
What Are Some Types Of Knee Surgery
The most common knee surgeries involve arthroscopy â a surgical technique used to repair many different types of knee problems â or knee replacement.
Arthroscopic surgery
Arthroscopy is a type of keyhole surgery used to diagnose and treat a wide range of knee problems. A keyhole surgery is one in which long, thin instruments are inserted into the patientâs body through small incisions.
For arthroscopic knee surgery, the surgeon inserts a probe with a small camera, called an arthroscope, into the knee joint. The scope displays pictures on a video monitor to help guide the surgeonâs work. Surgical instruments are inserted into the joint through a second incision.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons describes the following as the most common arthroscopic procedures for the knee:
- Removal or repair of a torn meniscus â a type of cartilage in your knee that cushions and stabilizes the joint
- Reconstruction of a torn anterior cruciate ligament , which is a ligament that helps stabilize the knee joint
- Removal of inflamed synovial tissue
- Trimming of damaged articular cartilage
- Removal of loose fragments of bone or cartilage
- Treatment of patella problems
- Treatment of knee sepsis
Knee replacement
In a knee replacement operation, the surgeon removes damaged parts of the knee joint and replaces them with new parts made of materials such as metal, ceramic, or plastic. Contrary to the name of the procedure, the surgeon does not replace the entire knee joint.
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How Common Is Knee Replacement Surgery
The surgery is very common. Surgeons started doing it in the 1960s, with regular updates to techniques and implants along the way.
Almost 800,000 knee replacements currently get performed each year in the United States. The surgery is often done in older adults whose knees have worn down over time. But its also become popular in middle age, as people want to stay active.
How Long Is It Before I Can Walk After A Knee Replacement
Most patients progress to a straight cane, walker or crutches within two or three days after surgery. As the days progress, the distance and frequency of walking will increase.
Patients are usually able to drive a car within three to six weeks after surgery and resume all other normal activities by or before six weeks. Complete recuperation and return to full strength and mobility may take up to four months. However, in many cases, patients are significantly more mobile one month after surgery than they were before they had their knee replacement
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