10 Frequently asked question on knee replacement

The knees lose flexibility over time as a result of advanced age or injury. As a result of the resulting inflammation and pain, people find it difficult to bend their knees. When the cartilage between the two knees wears away with age, mobility is further limited and pain increases. As a result, their ability to complete daily activities is hampered. If nothing is done to correct the situation, it will only become worse, becoming increasingly unpleasant and challenging. In such circumstances, knee surgery or knee joint replacement is frequently advised as the first line of treatment, usually after drugs and rehabilitation have failed to provide pain relief. More than 90% of patients benefit from the surgery, according to estimates.

Knee Replacement implants are used to replace knee joints that have been destroyed due to accident or osteoarthritis. Depending on the state of the knee, the surgeons may choose to perform a complete knee replacement (tkr or tkr surgery) or a partial knee replacement operation.

Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee are frequently besieged with queries, particularly about whether or not they should get a knee replacement or whether there are any other options. The following are some of the often asked questions by patients who have been advised to have a knee replacement.

Question 1: Is total knee replacement surgery (tkr) the only way to relieve osteoarthritis pain? Do you have any other knee replacement types or knee replacement alternatives?
No, a total knee replacement isn't the only way to achieve pain relief. There are numerous types of knee surgery/ replacements. However, total knee replacement is performed in 90% of all knee procedures. Other possibilities include partial knee replacement (also known as unicondylar knee replacement or unicompartmental knee replacement), minimally invasive knee replacement (also known as unicompartmental knee replacement), physical therapy, and pain management with medicines and ointments.

In a partial knee replacement, the surgeon simply removes the damaged portion of the knee and replaces it with mechanical implants. The remaining portion of the knee is left in its original state. Smaller incisions are required, and recuperation is swift.
However, only a few specialised doctors are trained to undertake this minimally invasive surgery. Furthermore, there is a chance that the osteoarthritis would resurface in the region of the knee that was left in its natural state by the doctors. In the future, this may necessitate more surgery.

Minimally invasive total knee replacement, on the other hand, is a recent procedure that allows surgeons to replace knees without having to make a larger incision. It reduces tissue damage, scarring, and recovery time. The long-term benefits of this type of knee surgery approach, on the other hand, are currently being studied.
At the primary level, medicines, physical therapy, and exercises are frequently provided for osteoarthritis patients. Only when these treatments fail to provide relief or when movement is severely limited due to significant pain and inflammation is a knee replacement indicated.

Question 2: What are the possible side effects of the procedure?
Knee replacement surgery is regarded as a relatively risk-free technique. After knee replacement, only a small percentage of patients have problems. The emergence of an infection after surgery is one of the most common surgical complications. However, just 2% of patients have been harmed so far. Blood clots, injury to the blood vessels and surrounding tissue, persistent pain, and rejection of the implant or a flaw in it are all possible consequences.

Over the last decade, advances in robot-assisted technology have allowed orthopaedic surgeons to perform joint replacement surgery with even greater success. Patients suffering from arthritis-related degenerative wear and tear can benefit from the latest robotic knee replacement surgery (also known as osteoarthritis). These individuals are perfect candidates for this extremely advanced treatment that saves tissue and bone.
Surgeons have been successfully employing robotic-assisted equipment in joint replacement procedures for more than a decade. In addition, there is mounting evidence that robotic joint surgery has advantages over traditional techniques.

Question 3: How long does it take to get back on your feet? 
Although hospitals and surgeons state that an osteoarthritis patient can walk normally within a week following surgery, knee replacement recovery time may take several weeks.
Patients are encouraged to receive a combination of physical and occupational therapy at the hospital shortly after total knee replacement. After the patient is discharged from the hospital, the therapy may continue for many days. A complete knee replacement patient is usually required to stay in the hospital for three to five days following the procedure.

When patients leave the hospital, they begin to walk or stand with the assistance of a walker or without assistance. After the procedure, rehabilitation and healing last at least two months. In addition to occupational and physical treatment, a series of exercises to be completed at home is frequently prescribed for speedy recovery.
Patients are expected to be able to stand and walk correctly without assistance by the conclusion of the eight-week period, as well as resume household tasks. In certain cases, however, recovery may be sluggish. Patients are frequently advised to avoid squatting and total knee bending.

Question 4: What happens during a total knee replacement?
The surgeon covers the shin bone with plastic and the thigh bone with metal during knee replacement surgery. All of this is carried out while under general anaesthesia. The worn out, uneven surface of the knee bone is then replaced with a prosthetic implant. Plastic is also used to replace the surface beneath the knee cap. This is done to ensure that the joints move more smoothly following surgery and to prevent pain. The procedure entails the excision of some natural cartilage and bone.

The prosthetic pieces or implants are attached to the shin bone, thigh bone, and knee cap with cement or another material. The artificial parts form joints after they have been established, and they rely on the surrounding ligaments and muscles for support and proper function.

Question 5: Do I qualify for a total knee replacement?
If you are over 50 years old and have significant arthritis in your knee, you may be a candidate for knee replacement surgery. The conditions should be so severe and painful that you are unable to stand or walk normally, or that they interfere with your everyday activities. Patients who have had their knees damaged in an accident, have no gap between their knees, and have significantly restricted mobility are ideal candidates for this procedure.

Question 6: Is it a safe procedure?
For more than four decades, knee replacement has been a viable alternative. Although it is a safe treatment, it does have dangers, just like any other surgery. Apart from blood clots, infection, and bleeding, the surgeon must pay special attention to a few factors during the procedure. These are a few of my concerns: A major risk exists if bone marrow or fat fragments enter the bloodstream during surgery. These microscopic fragments can get into other organs, such as the lungs, causing major difficulties. Numbness can result from nerve pressure. Artificial parts or implants may become loose or break inside the body. If you shatter one of your bones, you might break another one.

All of these issues during knee replacement could lead to a prolonged hospital stays and rehabilitation period. If sufficient care is not followed to restrict infection and bleeding, as well as to stop the creation and circulation of blood clots, the patient may lose his or her life. 

Question 7: What happens after a replacement of a knee joint?
Following knee replacement, you will be required to attend occupational and physical therapy. You should also refrain from twisting or turning the affected limb for at least six weeks. Kneeling and squatting should also be avoided, and when resting down in bed, try to maintain your knee as straight as possible. To shorten the time it takes to recuperate from a knee replacement, you should follow all of the instructions. Remember that failing to follow any of the above instructions can lengthen your healing period and perhaps result in joint dislocation. During the healing period, you must also refrain from stair climbing, pet play, and falls. Its important to consult before hand on expected knee replacement surgery recovery time off work with your doctor and not rush on this.

Question #8: What is the expected lifespan of the new joint?
During the 1970s, knee replacement surgery became popular. The average year of a replaced joint was roughly 10 years at the time. Artificial joints with varying average lifespans are already accessible, thanks to advancements in medical research. More than 80% of today's joints have a lifespan of more than 20 years. Improvements in the artificial joint material as well as the material used to connect them to the bones have made this possible.

Question 9: How much does knee surgery cost?
Knee replacement surgery cost is determined by the life of the knee implant (yes, there are many types of knee implants), the length of stay in the hospital, the doctor's fees, the country, and the sort of hospital you choose to have your surgery in. Total knee replacement cost in India varies from 1000 USD to 5000 USD, depending on the hospital (This is year 2020)

Question 10: Will both knees replaced in one operations

Double knee replacement surgery may involve one surgery or two surgeries. The knee operation is characterised as a simultaneous bilateral knee replacement when both knees are replaced at the same time. A phased bilateral knee replacement occurs when each knee is replaced at a different period. Any combination of complete knee replacement and partial knee replacement may be used in either procedure.

knee replacement surgery recovery time off work