A person’s quality of life can be greatly affected by chronic knee pain. It makes mobility difficult and causes problems in daily activities. If non-surgical treatments haven’t helped, knee replacement surgery is advisable. This article will discuss the various aspects of knee replacement surgery and help patients know what to expect at every step of the way.
Assessment and planning before the operation
During the preoperative assessment, a team of doctors, including orthopaedic surgeons, anaesthesiologists, and physical therapists, do in-depth medical evaluations. They check the patient’s overall health, look at X-rays and other diagnostic tests, and discuss the procedure’s risks and benefits.
Talking in detail with the orthopaedic surgeon about knee replacement surgery helps the patient understand the procedure, what to expect during recovery, and what changes to their lifestyle may be needed after surgery. Usually, the surgeon will advise the patient if they need to stop smoking, lose weight, or control their blood sugar levels, as these factors can affect how well the surgery goes.
The Operation
Surgery usually takes between one and two hours and can be done with either general or local anaesthesia. The surgeon makes a cut over the knee, removes the damaged bone and cartilage, and replaces them with metal, plastic, or ceramic prosthetics.
The prosthetic knee works like a real knee and provides more mobility and less pain. The cut is then closed, usually with stitches or staples, and a sterile dressing is put over it to help it heal and keep an infection from happening.
Care after an operation and recovery
After surgery, the patient is taken to a recovery room where they are monitored. At this stage, managing pain is a top priority, and medicines are given as needed.
Once the patient is stable, they are moved to a room in the hospital. Here, physical therapy sessions start on the first day after surgery as part of a program to get the knee working again. The physical therapist helps the patient do gentle exercises to get stronger, more flexible, and more stable.
The orthopaedic surgeon will check on the knee at regular intervals to ensure it is healing as expected. About two weeks after surgery, stitches or staples are usually taken out. To get better, the patient needs to stick to the rehabilitation program and attend follow-up appointments.
Know more : Knee Replacement Surgery for Arthritis
Getting a new knee is a big deal.
Most people who have knee replacement surgery feel less pain and can move around better within a few weeks to a few months. But they are told to keep up with regular exercise and stay at a healthy weight to help the knee implant last longer.
Low-impact activities like swimming, cycling, and walking are suggested, while high-impact sports might be discouraged to prevent injury to the implanted knee. It’s also important for patients to make regular appointments with their orthopaedic surgeon to check on how well the prosthetic knee is working and to ensure it’s in good shape.
Conslusion
Knee replacement surgery can be effective for people with chronic knee pain to get back their mobility and improve their quality of life. It’s a long process that includes a preoperative assessment, the surgery itself, care after the surgery, and long-term changes to how you live.
This guide is meant to help patients get ready for their journey by setting realistic goals for each step. But each patient’s journey is different, and the details can change depending on the patient’s health and the way the medical team works with them. So, it’s important to talk to your surgeon about any questions or worries you have. It’s also essential to get the surgery at a hospital well known for this procedure and with experts in this field.