Knee replacement surgery (knee arthroplasty) is surgery to replace all or some of your knee joint. Your surgeon will replace damaged cartilage and bone with a prosthetic joint, made of metal and plastic. It can take up to a year to recover fully after a knee surgery, but you’ll be able to resume some of your usual activities gradually as you heal. It is the most common type of Joint Replacement Surgery.

Types of knee replacement

Your surgeon will recommend either a total or partial replacement:

• Total knee replacement: It is the most common. Your surgeon will replace all three areas of your knee joint — the inside (medial), outside (lateral) and under your kneecap (patellofemoral).
• Partial knee replacement: A partial knee replacement is just what it sounds like. Your surgeon will only replace some areas of your knee joint — usually if only one or two areas are damaged. Partial knee replacements are more common in younger adults who’ve experienced an injury or trauma.

Conditions Treated with a knee replacement

An Orthopedic Surgeon at Shreya Hospital might recommend knee replacement if you have severe symptoms that don’t get better after trying nonsurgical treatments, including:

• Joint pain.
• Stiffness.
• Limited mobility (trouble moving your knee).
• Swelling.

Arthritis is the most common condition that causes people to need knee surgery. Most people who choose to have a knee surgery have osteoarthritis, but some people with rheumatoid arthritis may need one, too.

It’s rare, but a healthcare provider might suggest knee replacement if you’ve experienced a bone fracture in your knee that causes post-traumatic arthritis after you’ve experienced a:

• Car accident.
• Fall.
• Sports injury.

Preparation

• A physical exam to make sure you’re healthy enough for surgery.
• Blood tests.
• An electrocardiogram to check your heart health.
• A dental exam to reduce your risk of developing an infection after surgery.
• Imaging tests, including a knee X-ray. You might also need magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computed tomography (CT) scan.
• Inform your Surgeon about any Medication you are taking regularly.

Procedure

On the day of your surgery, you’ll receive anesthesia to numb your body and make sure you don’t feel any pain. An anesthesiologist will give you either general anesthesia to put you to sleep during your surgery or a regional anesthesia to numb you from the waist down.

During a knee replacement, your surgeon will:

• Remove damaged cartilage and bone.
• Insert the prosthetic knee joint.
• Insert a plastic spacer that recreates the smooth cushion of your cartilage that was damaged or removed.
• Reshape your patella (kneecap) to fit the new prosthetic knee joint (if needed).

Benefits

Knee arthroplasty conducted by the Orthopedic Surgeon at Shreya Hospital is a safe, effective procedure that helps people regain their mobility and relieves long-term pain. Most people who have under gone the surgery have reduced pain, increased ability to move and use their knee, and improved quality of life.