Knee Replacement Surgery Types:
Total Knee Replacement:
Total knee replacement removes all weight-bearing, damaged knee cartilage and bone and replaces it with a man-made metal or plastic prosthetic joint that mechanically replicates the knee function. In total knee replacement, a highly polished strong metal alloy replaces the femur portion of the knee joint; a strong durable polymer tray replaces the tibia portion of the joint, and more plastic replaces the kneecap or patella. Surgery usually takes 1 1/2 to three hours.
Partial Knee Replacement:
Partial knee replacement, or unicompartmental knee replacement, is the choice if only one part or compartment of your knee is severely damaged and requires replacement rather than the entire joint. An implant for either the femur portion, tibia portion or patella portion is surgically inserted through a smaller incision. If two or more compartments of the knee are damaged, the partial knee replacement may not be the best treatment choice. Hospital stays are generally shorter--perhaps even overnight.
Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement:
Newer minimally invasive knee replacement, or MIS, uses specialized surgical techniques that allow a 3- to 5-inch incision rather than the standard 8- to 12-inch incision. The smaller incision provides for recovery with potentially less scar tissue formation, less pain, and a faster healing period. Hospital stays are from one to three days.
Revision Knee Replacement:
Revision knee replacement is for removing and replacing a prosthetic knee joint that is worn out or that has failed. Revision knee replacement surgery can be repeated multiple times, but scar tissue formation from previous knee surgeries can make the procedure increasingly difficult with each replacement event.
Computer Assisted Surgery:
Knee replacement using computer assisted surgery, or CAS, is a computer-driven technology that uses computer guided imagery during surgery. The computer aids the alignment of the knee components during the surgical procedure and renders the alignment more accurate. The high level of accuracy may increase the longevity of the total knee replacement.
Bilateral Knee Replacement:
For those who have both knees equally affected by cartilage damage and decreased mobility, bilateral knee replacement is an option. Both knees undergo any of the above mentioned knee replacement type surgeries at the same time.
After Knee Replacement Surgery:
Usually the first day after knee replacement surgery, you'll begin to work with a physical therapist who will teach you exercise to regain full leg and knee movement.
During your hospital stay, you'll attend physical therapy one to two times a day. An occupational therapist and nurse discharge planner will help you prepare for your return home.
Your doctor may recommend a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine that bends and straightens your knee.
You may be given special elastic stockings to reduce swelling. An anticoagulant medication, such as lovenox, also may be administered to help circulation and prevent blood clots.
Recovery after Knee Replacement Surgery:
Recovery varies with each person. You will use a walker for approximately 4 weeks after the operation. You can drive a car in 2-4 weeks.
Most people gradually increase their activities and may play golf, doubles tennis, shuffleboard, or bowl in 12 weeks. More active sports, such as singles tennis and jogging are not recommended.
After discharge, there is usually no need for a nursing home. Some patients who live alone may require a short stay at a rehab center for a few days after they leave the hospital. This will depend on how you progress in the hospital, and keep in mind that healing and recovery times vary with each person.
Knee Replacement Surgery Follow-up:
During the first year after surgery, routine follow-up visits are scheduled with your orthopedic surgeon at three weeks, six weeks, three months, six months and 12 months. You'll be asked to return for annual visits to assess the status and function of your implant.
Knee Replacement Longevity:
Following things affect the longevity and success of your knee replacement:
Avoiding repetitive heavy lifting
Avoiding excessive stair climbing
Maintaining appropriate weight
Staying healthy and active
Avoiding "impact loading" sports such as jogging, downhill skiing and high impact aerobics
Consulting your surgeon before beginning any new sport or activity
Thinking before you move
Avoiding any physical activities involving quick stop-start motion, twisting or impact stresses
Avoiding excessive bending when weight bearing, like climbing steep stairs
Not lifting or pushing heavy objects
Not kneeling
Avoiding low seating surfaces and chairs
Knee Replacement Surgery Benefits:
After knee replacement surgery patient is relieved of the pain he/she associated with the knee. Some of the benefits of Knee replacement surgery are:
Pain Relief:
When arthritic joint surfaces are re-surfaced as in the case of a knee replacement; implants made of a combination of metal and high density polyethylene plastic are fixed onto the prepared surfaces. Since the original, arthritis-laden joint surfaces have been removed and replaced with metallic and plastic materials, the original joint pain, caused by the exposed bone, no longer exists. This gives the patient a considerable reduction or even elimination of pain.
Improved Mobility:
When the joint anatomy is rough and irregular secondary to advanced arthritis, the ability of the joint to move smoothly is limited. Frequently, overall range of motion can be severely limited due to joint surface irregularity as well as the presence of excessive fluid production. Total knee replacement can largely restore range of motion.
Improved Quality of Life:
When a person is no longer burdened by chronic, debilitating pain and joint motion has been vastly improved, the quality of life is improved as well. Most patients visiting a surgeon's office for consideration of a knee joint replacement have endured longstanding pain and functional impairment. A successful joint replacement can return the patient to leading a normal life.
Knee Replacement Surgery Risks:
As with all major surgical procedures, complications can occur. Some of the most common risks following knee replacement surgery are:
Infection
Stiffness
Loosening
Osteolysis
Knee Replacement Surgery Alternatives:
The following are the alternatives to Knee replacement surgery.
Specialized Braces
Arthroscopy
Cartilage Transplantation
Osteotomy
Uni-compartmental arthroplasty
Arthrodesis or Knee Fusion
Knee Replacement Surgery India:
Due to the high costs of knee replacement surgery in the United States, the waiting lists in the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada and the lack of high tech medical procedures in many third world countries, medical tourism is expected to blossom into a ten billion dollar business world-wide. Recognizing this trend Indian government, large corporations, hospitals, and doctors are flooding the Indian medical tourism market with choices, and prices are dropping.
India boasts volumes of its excellently maintained healthcare providers by stringent government controls on the policies for control of promotion and advertisement, thus not visible much in news papers, magazines and electronic media. But certainly as good as other regional healthcare providers like Singapore and Thailand.
India is as competitive as Singapore in the quality of healthcare, through it world class facilities of hospitals and clinics, latest machines in healthcare and more over world class renowned surgeons and doctors that it has more in number then any regional healthcare providers.
Our Other Services are: - Shoulder Surgery , Acl reconstruction , Sports Injuries , Shoulder arthroscopy
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