Joint Replacement Surgery: Need and Recovery
In Knee joint replacement surgery, an injured or ailing knee is replaced with an artificial joint or prosthesis.
Best Joint Replacement Hospital in Punjab offers prostheses made of metal alloys, polymers, and plastics. It imitates the function of a knee. Replaced knees can fit your needs and specifications. When deciding on a prosthetic knee, your doctor will consider your:
- age
- weight
- overall health
- activity level
The process of removing the old knee and replacing it with a prosthesis is not time-consuming; it takes less than two hours; however, the recovery and rehabilitation process can last months.
Knee replacement surgery is also called arthroplasty, and it is general surgery and has a high success rate. In the United States alone, more than 600,000 knee replacements occur every year.
What Is The Purpose Of A Knee Joint Replacement?
The majority of the time, the reason for joint replacement surgery is the damage caused by arthritis. It includes both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Knee replacement surgery is advised when all other options fail, such as:
- weight loss
- physical therapy
- medications
- assistive devices, like a knee brace or a cane
ARV hospital Chandigarh determines whether the patient is the right candidate for knee joint replacement:
- does knee pain makes it difficult for the patient to perform daily functions such as walking or climbing stairs
- does the patient’s knee “blows out” regularly
- age of the patient
- the overall health of the patient
Knee surgery is a typical treatment for people over the age of 55. Younger people who have their knees replaced may outlive their artificial knees and may need a revision.
Doctors evaluate each candidate for knee replacement surgery on an individual basis.
How Do You Prepare For Knee Joint Replacement?
The medical history of the patient is taken into consideration before the surgery. The doctor will evaluate:
- a full medical history
- blood tests
- a physical examination
- X-rays
- other imaging tests
The patient is asked if he had prior surgeries, any accidents, and ongoing conditions. The doctor will ask the patient what medications he regularly takes, etc. Patients shouldn’t hide anything from the doctor; it is best to tell your doctor what supplements you take. The doctor will ask the patient if he is allergic to any medication or an allergic reaction to anesthesia.
The patient can tell his doctor what type of anesthesia he prefers, and the doctor will see what the best as per your situation is. When the patient is given general anesthesia, he sleeps throughout the surgery. Or the patient might be given anesthesia in the spine, in which the patient is awake but doesn’t feel any pain from the waist down.
After you receive anesthesia and fully asleep or numb, your surgeon will cut your knee to open it up and perform the knee replacement procedure.
Your doctor will provide your surgeon with the results of your medical history, medical evaluation, and your anesthesia choice.
After the surgery, the patient has to take the aid of crutches or a walker to walk for several weeks. Since it is difficult to walk after the surgery, you should make changes to your home to accommodate your recovery:
- You should install handles around the toilet and shower; it will help you get up and prevent you from sliding.
- It would help if you elevated your leg on a chair to avoid swelling.
- If you live in a multistory house, you should live on the ground floor and avoid climbing stairs.
When you are sent home, your doctor and surgical team will give you a set of instructions on how to recover fast after the surgery. It’s important to follow those instructions as closely as possible.
Final Words
Knee replacement surgery is beneficial for people who have deformed knees due to various reasons. The best orthopedic hospital in Chandigarh sees mostly elderly patients who require knee replacement surgery. Still, sometimes it is done on young patients as well to improve their mobility and pain.
