Start Using The Knee Early
Recovery and rehabilitation must start shortly after you awake from surgery. On the first day, you need to start standing up and walking with an assistive device, like a walker or crutches, with the aid of a physical therapist. Use your artificial knee as soon as you can. Your therapist will guide you through exercises that will increase the strength of your muscles, as well as help you get in and out of bed.
What Are The Risks
- An infection at the surgical site is possible. Blood clots are a risk as are injuries to a blood vessel or a nerve. These complications are quite rare.
- You may experience some knee joint stiffness.
- Late complications may include infection and a failure or loosening of the prosthesis, as well as continued pain.
How Young Is Too Young
No one can definitively answer this question, but what we do know is that the benefits of performing total knee replacement surgery in younger patients may outweigh the risks of surgery.
The benefits are primarily quality of life, pain reduction, and maintaining proper fitness. By accomplishing these goals, patients may also reduce the risk of developing other problems associated with poor fitness such as cardiovascular disease.
The primary risk of performing total knee replacement surgery in younger patients is the concern of wearing out the implant. Developments in manufacturing have sought to reduce the magnitude of this problem, but it is a concern.
Furthermore, the amount of wear to a knee joint replacement does appear to be related to the amount of activity. Therefore, young patients with joint replacements should be cautious and perform only suggested activities .
The Knee Society recommends specific activities for patients with total knee replacement, these include:
- Jogging
- Powerlifting
These lists are meant to give patients an idea of what to expect if they undergo knee replacement surgery. Before you begin a new exercise program, it is important that you discuss this with your healthcare provider. If there is an activity you do not see listed, and you are curious about your participation, ask your healthcare provider.
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Joint Replacement In Young Patients
Surprisingly, the age-related factor that might disqualify a candidate from joint replacement surgery is being too young.
Joint devices and implants have a defined lifespan. To avoid revision surgery, doctors will sometimes advise waiting unless the condition is debilitating.
In addition, younger people are more active and wear out their prostheses sooner. A younger person undergoing a joint replacement is likely to need another replacement surgery 15 20 years later.
Prosthesis failure is a painful condition that can limit the mobility and efficiency of the affected joint. This tends to affect younger patients more frequently, and often calls for revision surgery.
Very young candidates need counseling and careful explanation of their condition, their options, the nature and lifespan of their implants, and pre- and postoperative protocols. They should know that multiple revision surgeries might be needed.
Generally speaking, joint replacements are performed on patients between 60 and 80 years of age, and most are women. But those older or younger are not automatically precluded. Teenagers, young adults, and even children may be suitable candidates if their condition demands it to relieve pain, improve function, mobility, and quality of life.
All other factors being favorable, there is no upper age limit for a joint replacement surgery. Today, many elderly patients are in good health, making them good candidates for the procedure.
Types Of Knee Replacement Surgery
Knee replacement can be total or partial.
Total knee replacement : Surgery involves the replacement of both sides of the knee joint. It is the most common procedure.
Surgery lasts between 1 and 3 hours. The individual will have less pain and better mobility, but there will be scar tissue, which can make it difficult to move and bend the knees.
Partial knee replacement : Partial replacement replaces only one side of the knee joint. Less bone is removed, so the incision is smaller, but it does not last as long as a total replacement.
PKR is suitable for people with damage to only one part of the knee. Post-operative rehabilitation is more straightforward, there is less blood loss and a lower risk of infection and blood clots.
The hospital stay and recovery period are normally shorter, and there is a higher chance of more natural movement.
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Preparing For Knee Replacement Surgery
Before you go into hospital, find out as much as you can about what’s involved in your operation. Your hospital should provide written information or videos.
Stay as active as you can. Strengthening the muscles around your knee will aid your recovery. If you can, continue to do gentle exercise, such as walking and swimming, in the weeks and months before your operation. You can be referred to a physiotherapist, who will give you helpful exercises.
Read about preparing for surgery, including information on travel arrangements, what to bring with you and attending a pre-operative assessment.
Possible Complications Of Surgery
The complication rate following total knee replacement is low. Serious complications, such as a knee joint infection, occur in fewer than 2% of patients. Major medical complications such as heart attack or stroke occur even less frequently. Chronic illnesses may increase the potential for complications. Although uncommon, when these complications occur, they can prolong or limit full recovery.
Discuss your concerns thoroughly with your orthopaedic surgeon prior to surgery.
Infection. Infection may occur in the wound or deep around the prosthesis. It may happen within days or weeks of your surgery. It may even occur years later. Minor infections in the wound area are generally treated with antibiotics. Major or deep infections may require more surgery and removal of the prosthesis. Any infection in your body can spread to your joint replacement.
Blood clots. Blood clots in the leg veins are one of the most common complications of knee replacement surgery. These clots can be life-threatening if they break free and travel to your lungs. Your orthopaedic surgeon will outline a prevention program, which may include periodic elevation of your legs, lower leg exercises to increase circulation, support stockings, and medication to thin your blood.
Blood clots may form in one of the deep veins of the body. While blood clots can occur in any deep vein, they most commonly form in the veins of the pelvis, calf, or thigh.
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How Young Is Too Young For Joint Replacement Surgery
Jan 24, 2017 | Patient
Generally, hip and knee replacements are reserved as an end of the line treatment for mature adults whove been suffering with osteoarthritis, joint pain and reduced mobility for years. But where does this leave younger adults whove already reached their breaking point? In opposition to Hollywoods film industry, would joint replacement surgery be considered reversed ageism? . But really, where do the increasing numbers of men and women under the age of majority fit into the picture?
In 2014, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reported that knee and hip replacements amongst 45-64 year olds have increased by 188% and 123% respectively.
Despite the success of joint replacement surgery, many surgeons turn away younger patients. For example, someone seeking a knee replacement at age 30 or age 40, or someone wanting a hip replacement at age 40 or even 50 may run into a brick wall. Now, this isnt just to torture the young whove unfortunately been dealt premature, irreversible joint problems. Rather, orthopedic surgeons and clinicians postpone joint replacement surgery in order to get closer to the ideal situation: one joint replacement performed with zero revisions that lasts a patients lifetime.
How Old Is Too Old To Have Knee Replacement
Not long ago there was widespread belief that total knee replacement surgery was for patients ages 60 to 75. This was a common age when people wore out their knee but they were still young enough to heal quickly after surgery.
More recently, the desire for older adults to be more active and not surrender to aging has seen younger people in the 45- 60 age group opt for knee replacement surgery .
Improved technology has allowed for patients who are older age group to receive TKR as well.
This article will focus on knee replacement for the elderly.
With improvements in anesthesia, general health care, and surgical techniques, knee replacement surgery has become widely accepted for elderly patients, including those over 80.
Osteoarthritis is the primary condition requiring knee replacement surgery, and it tends to get worse with age.
People are living longer and many of us want to remain active and have a good quality of life. There are many things to consider before we decide to have TKR, but its an even more important decision for patients over 80.
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Good Data On Joint Replacement Are Hard To Find
Its difficult to predict how long a joint replacement will last for several reasons. One is that it can take a decade or more to collect data on past operations to predict the success of future operations. Another challenge is that in recent years, theres been a tendency to operate on younger people, including baby boomers who are more active in their 50s and 60s and may expect more of their new joints than prior generations. Age is of particular importance, because a person with a life expectancy of 15 years has a much better chance of avoiding a future operation than a person with a life expectancy of 30 years. In addition, younger patients tend to be more active and put more stress on their new joint. For these reasons, some surgeons advise younger patients to put off surgery as long as possible, even if that means suffering with pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
Age Health And Other Considerations For Tkr Surgery
There are no absolute age restrictions for knee replacement surgery. Recommendations for knee surgery are based on a patients pain and disability, not age.
Most patients who have total knee replacement are between the ages of 50-80, but orthopedic surgeons evaluate patients individually. Physicians are far more interested in the overall health of an individual rather than the age of the person.
Considerations for elderly patients include:
- Value of an individuals independence
- Current quality of life
- Length of time a person might benefit from the use of a a new knee
- Danger of complications from surgery,
- Other existing health concerns.
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How Long Will The New Knee Joint Last
For 8090% of people who have total knee replacement, the new joint should last about 20 years, and it may well last longer.
If you’ve had a partial knee replacement, you’re more likely to need a repeat operation about 1 person in 10 needs further surgery after 10 years.
The chances of needing another operation is greater if you’re overweight and/or involved in heavy manual work.
Why Do Knee Replacements Happen
Taking care of our bodies needs to become a top priority. Getting a total knee replacement should be a last resort option, but unfortunately it seems to be a first-resort option in an increasing manner.
Part of the issue may not be a lack of wanting to have eating habits that are healthy, but an inability to actually afford healthy eating habits. For those in the Middle Class, family wages have been static since 1980. This means that the average person who may be considering a total knee replacement earns the same value of money as when they first started out in their career. Thats the issue that Americans are facing in an ever increasing way. Poor nutrition comes with low income levels and that creates the conditions for a total knee replacement to become necessary.
Thats not to say there isnt a certain level of personal responsibility involved. Americans dont generally exercise as much as they should and there is more of a sedentary lifestyle practiced now more than ever before. That also sets the conditions for a total knee replacement to become necessary. Thats why focusing on weight loss and healthy living habits now is so important. By changing habits today, a surgery may not be needed tomorrow.
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Will My Lifestyle Affect The Knee Surgery Compensation Amount I Receive
Yes, your lifestyle will affect the compensation amount you receive for your knee surgery settlement. If you had a more active lifestyle before the surgery, then there is a higher chance that you will get a higher compensation amount. For example, a construction worker may have a better argument to recover more from a knee surgery settlement than a receptionist.
Knee Replacement Settlement Amounts
The average values of knee replacements will vary from individual to individual, even when medically the injury is the exact same.
There are cases on the lower end that range from $50,000 to $100,000 for less severe injuries which result in knee replacements.
Conversely, I found knee replacement settlements that ranged around $300,000 to $500,000.
The reason for these higher payouts are that in the case of a knee replacement, especially a total knee replacement, you can expect a lifetime of pain and medical care, future knee replacement, and early onset of arthritis.
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Whats Recovery Like After Total Knee Replacement Surgery
If the patient is in good health , they may be able to undergo minimally invasive knee replacement in an ambulatory surgical suite. In these cases, the patient normally goes home the same day of their surgery. Patients are encouraged to begin walking as soon as possible, usually directly after their surgery. Patients are typically at the surgical suite for about 5-6 hours for their procedure and are then able to recover at home. This is especially important in the COVID-19 era. It gives many patients a lot of relief to know they can safely have their joint replacement and then recover at home instead of being in a hospital where other diseases are being treated.
Home physical therapy will start the day after surgery. This typically lasts 2 weeks while the patient is in the initial phases of recovery. Outpatient physical therapy usually begins about 2 weeks after the surgical procedure. The physical therapist will work one-on-one with you to strengthen the knee and restore range of motion while reducing scar tissue.
Typically, a knee replacement surgery takes one to two hours and most patients can resume normal light activities within six weeks. Driving can occur in three to six weeks depending on which leg was operated on and how the recovery process is going. Full recovery and return to normal activities such as tennis, aerobics, and other high-intensity activities could take four to six months depending upon the situation and individual patient.
What Should I Do When I Get Home
We ask that you rest. Even though our patients typically feel good, it has still been a long day. On the day of your surgery you will learn how to safely transfer in and out of both the bed and the car. We ask that you use the bathroom as needed, eat dinner and rest. You will have nursing and therapy services the very next day. Wait for further instruction from them.
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My Decision With Surgery And Age
I opted to have TKR at age 67 for a couple of reasons.
- One I wanted to have a pain free knee that allowed me to remain active an improve my quality of life. I lived with the pain as long as I could.
- Two, I wanted the new knee to last my lifetime, hoping that a second knee replacement would not be necessary.
I felt that this age was the sweet-spot for me. I was tired of living with pain in my knee and I was still young enough to be mobile and remain active .
If I would have waited longer, I may have resigned myself to a more sedentary lifestyle, and I believe the recovery timeline may have increased .
Who Might Need A Knee Replacement
Knee surgery may be suitable for patients who experience:
- Severe knee pain or stiffness that prevents them from carrying out everyday tasks and activities, such as walking, going upstairs, getting in and out of cars, getting up from a chair
- Moderate but continuous knee pain that continues while sleeping or resting
- Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that does not improve after taking medications or resting
- Knee deformity, where there is a noticeable arch on the inside or outside of the knee
- Depression, resulting from an inability to carry out daily or social activities
If the other available treatment options have not worked, surgery may be the best option.
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Why Do I Have A Problem With My Patella
Her left kneecap was getting way off track, but not quite dislocating. This is called subluxation. In fact, both her patellae have this problem. The left subluxes most often, but the right actually dislocates. Shes had several falls right onto her knees. Both knees hurt, and shes having trouble getting up and down stairs.
In most cases, the kneecap shifts to the outside of the leg, but it can also move towards the inside. Heres what you need to know about patellar tracking disorder and keeping your knees healthy.
What The Alternatives To Knee Replacement
A healthcare provider may recommend knee replacement surgery after other treatments for knee pain dont help anymore. These earlier options may include:
- Exercise or physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the joint which will provide stability.
- Medications such as NSAIDs and cortisone shots.
- Walking aids or supports and bracing.
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