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Assoc. Prof.Dr. Mudassar Nazar a highly qualified and experienced Orthopedic Surgeon with over 10 years of clinical excellence in trauma joint replacement, arthroscopy, and advanced orthopedic care.
If knee pain doesn’t let you sleep at night or go shopping in the morning, you may be one of those knee arthritis patients who need total knee replacement surgery to live a happy life.
Knee replacement surgery, or known as total knee arthroplasty, is a common operation that involves replacing a damaged, worn or diseased knee with an artificial joint. You should not be scared, as it’s just a replacement of surfaces of worn knee, so you may better call it knee surface arthroplasty, isn’t it exciting news?
Most knee replacements are carried out on people between the ages of 60 and 80.
A smaller operation called a partial knee replacement tends to be performed on younger people aged between 55 and 64. Remember, it may be offered to you instead of a Total knee replacement if only one compartment of your knee is involved, either outer or inner (medial or lateral).
The most common reason for Knee replacement surgery is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is an age-related degeneration of the knee joint, wear and tear of joint cartilage and irregularity of the joint surface.
Other conditions that can cause knee joint damage include;
When all other treatments, such as painkiller tablets, physiotherapy or steroid injections, have not helped reduce pain or improve mobility. Ortho Clinic may offered knee replacement surgery if your Knee pain is so severe that it interferes with your quality of life, activities of daily living and sleep.
Total knee replacement – both sides of your knee joint are replaced to restore smooth movement and relieve chronic pain.
The damaged cartilage and bone surfaces are removed and substituted with high-quality artificial implants.
This procedure is ideal for patients with severe arthritis affecting the entire knee.
It helps improve mobility, stability, and overall quality of life with long-lasting results.
Partial (half) knee replacement – only one side of your knee joint is replaced, making it a less invasive procedure.
It preserves healthy bone and tissue while relieving pain in the affected area.
This approach allows for a shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery.
Patients often regain mobility faster and experience a more natural knee movement.
Normally doctor suggests knee replacement surgery only when all non-operative measures have failed. So, you will require this surgery for the relief of your symptoms and to perform your day-to-day activities.Understandably, you might be reluctant to undergo surgery, so there are other types of surgery which may provide pain relief in selected patients, but the results are often not as good in the long term.
Before you go to the hospital, find out as much as you can about what’s involved in your operation. Watch animation videos, read blogs, so that you exactly know what happens during the operation.
Stay as active as you can. Strengthening the muscles around your knee will aid your recovery. Continue doing gentle exercise, such as walking and swimming. You will see a physiotherapist, who will give you helpful exercises
The worn ends of thigh and leg bones (femur and tibia) are removed and replaced with metal on each side and a plastic part in between. You may have either a total or a partial knee replacement. Total knee replacements are the most common.
Knee replacement surgery is a common and successful operation in more than 90% of patients. Most people do not have complications.
However, as with any operation, there are risks associated with this wonderful procedure. Complications are rare but can include:
1 stiffness of the knee
2. infection of the wound
3. infection of the joint replacement, needing further surgery
4. unexpected bleeding into the knee joint
5. deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
6. persistent pain in the knee
7. a break in the bone around the knee replacement during or after the operation
8. ligament, artery or nerve damage in the area around the knee joint
In some cases, the new knee joint may not be completely stable and further surgery may be needed to correct it.
You will be discharged 24-72 hours after surgery and may see your doctor at 2 weeks for stitch removal. After that, your doctor will plan your visits at regular intervals.
You may need to see your doctor earlier than your planned visit if you develop any of the following worrisome features: leg/calf swelling (deep vein thrombosis), chest pain or breathlessness (pulmonary embolism).
If you develop fever or feel unwell, the Knee becomes hot, red, or discharge is coming from the wound, it could be due to infection. These are the most alarming features which should never be ignored and need urgent medical advice.
Once you’re able to be discharged, your hospital will give you advice about looking after your knee at home. You’ll need to use a frame or crutches at first, and a physiotherapist will teach you exercises to help strengthen your knee.
Most people can stop using walking aids around 6 weeks after surgery, and start driving after 6 to 8 weeks. Full recovery can take up to 2 years as scar tissue heals and your muscles are restored by exercise. A very small number of people will continue to have some pain after 2 years.
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