Hey there viewers!
Do you struggle constantly with joint pain in your knees?
Well, several conditions can cause this type of pain like arthritis, a severe fracture
or a major injury.
If nonsurgical treatments like medications, physical therapy, and changes to your everyday
activities do not relieve your pain and disability, your doctor may recommend total joint replacement.
But this is not something to worry about as there are several options available now.
Advanced medical science and joint replacement surgeons have come a long way to offer patients
the latest in joint replacement therapy.
And knee arthroplasty is one such surgical procedure that can restore the function of
your damaged knee joint . In today’s video, we will tell you everything that you should
know about Arthroplasty of the knee.
From recovery time, precautions you should take, risks involved, procedure process to
duration of hospital stay and more, watch till the end to learn about all of them.
What Exactly is Knee Arthroplasty?
Knee arthroplasty, also called knee replacement or total knee replacement, is a surgical procedure
done to resurface damaged knee.
Metal and plastic parts are used to cap the ends of the bones that form the knee joint,
along with the kneecap.
The goal of knee arthroplasty is to resurface the parts of your knee joint that have been
damaged and to relieve knee pain that cannot be controlled by other treatments.
For any problem, would you prefer the slower route of recovery through medicines or would
you rather take the quicker route of surgery?
We would love to know in the comments section below!
What Are The Different Types Of Arthroplasty?
There are a couple of types of Arthroplasty.
The first one is Total knee replacement or TKR.
This surgery involves the replacement of both sides of the knee joint.
It is the most common type of arthroplasty.
This surgery lasts between 1 and 3 hours.
You will have less pain and better mobility, but there will be scar tissue, which can make
it difficult for you to move and bend your knees.
The second one is Partial knee replacement or PKR.
Partial replacement replaces only one side of your knee joint.
Less bone is removed, so the incision is smaller, but it does not last as long as a total replacement.
PKR is suitable for people with damage to only one part of the knee.
Post-operative rehabilitation is more straightforward, there is less blood loss and a lower risk
of infection and blood clots.
The hospital stay and recovery period are normally shorter, and there is a higher chance
of more natural movement.
When Do You Really Need Arthroplasty?
There are a few instances which may indicate that you need arthroplasty.
The first one is If you have severe knee pain or stiffness that prevents you from carrying
out everyday tasks and activities, such as walking, going upstairs, getting in and out
of cars or getting up from a chair.
Second is if you have moderate but continuous knee pain that continues while you are sleeping
or resting.
Another instance is if you have chronic knee inflammation and swelling that does not improve
after taking medications or resting.
Finally, if you have knee deformity, where there is a noticeable arch on the inside or
outside of the knee.
How Can You Prepare for the Surgery: In the weeks before your surgery, your surgical team
and primary care doctor will spend time preparing you for your upcoming procedure.
For example, your primary care doctor may check your general health, and your surgeon
may require several tests — such as blood tests and a cardiogram — to help plan your
surgery.
There are also many things you can do to prepare.
Prepare yourself physically by eating right and exercising.
Take steps to manage your first weeks at home by arranging for help and obtaining assistive
items, such as a shower bench, handrails, or a long-handled reacher.
By planning ahead, you can help ensure a smooth surgery and speedy recovery.
What will happen during the procedure?
Most knee arthroplasty is performed under a combination of general anesthesia, peripheral
nerve blocks, and spinal anesthesia.
You will also receive at least one dose of antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection.
During the procedure, the surgeon will remove bone and diseased cartilage from where your
thigh bone and shin bone meet at your knee joint.
Those surfaces are then replaced with a metal implant.
A piece of special plastic is normally used to replace the backside of the kneecap and
finally, this same plastic material is placed in between the two metal parts.
This gives both bones of your knee joint smooth surfaces again so they can flex and bend more
freely and painlessly.
How Long Will You Stay In Hospital After The Surgery?
These days, a typical inpatient stay following knee arthroplasty lasts two days, although
some patients can go home the same day as surgery, and some patients may need to stay
longer.
You might be administered low-dose narcotics, nerve pain medication, and anti-inflammatory
medication.
From there, it’s all about getting your knee joint moving again.
Physical therapy starts the day of surgery and could be as minimal as dangling your feet
over the side of the bed.
The remainder of your hospital stay will likely involve physical therapy focused on activities
of daily living, which you’ll need to move around your home.
It’s no longer about bed rest like it used to be.
Even though hospital stays for knee replacement surgery are shorter than they used to be,
getting back on your feet still takes time.
What Precautions Should You Take At Home?
The next phase of recovery continues at home, as you begin acclimating to normal activities,
such as moving between rooms, getting up and sitting down on furniture, and using the bathroom.
While everyone is different, many patients are likely to have similar experiences during
the early weeks of recovery.
In addition, you may experience a lot of swelling.
Whether your doctor has prescribed formal outpatient physical therapy or has entrusted
you with an at-home regimen of walking and exercises, patients progressing through recovery
achieve some big milestones along the way.
You might need a walker for a few days, then a cane for up to six weeks.
By three months you will start getting better.
When Will You Be Able To Drive?
As for driving, the timeframe can vary.
If your left knee is replaced, you may wait two to three weeks before driving.
If the right knee is replaced, you may wait three to six.
Just be sure you’re no longer taking narcotic medication before getting behind the wheel.
Brake reaction time is usually the last to come back.
So it’s best to have someone in the car with you at first, so you can feel what it’s
like to stop at a stop sign.
Will You Be Able To Go Back To Work Immediately?
This often depends on the occupation.
If you have a desk job that allows you to sit comfortably, you may return to work in
two to four weeks.
However, if your job requires you to be on your feet a lot, your return may be closer
to six weeks.
If your occupation entails significant manual labor, you may be staying home for up to two
months.
What About Exercise and Physical Activity?
The final phase of recovery is returning to exercises and extra activities, including
hiking and biking.
It typically takes eight to 12 weeks to get to this phase.
In terms of full knee replacement recovery, you may generally need a year to completely
heal and regain total function.
In fact, after a couple of years, you forget that you’ve even had knee surgery.
Have you ever wondered what time of the day is best for you to exercise?
Here’s a video titled “The Best Time Of Day To Exercise” to tell you what time.
Now back to things to know about arthroplasty.
Are There Any Risks or Complications?
As with any surgery, there are certain risks and complications involved.
One of the most common problems you may experience after knee arthroplasty is a stiff knee joint.
This can cause difficulty with normal activities including going down stairs, sitting in a
chair, or getting out of a car.
Another risk is clicking or clunking of the joints.
You may be surprised when you hear noises coming from your artificial joints.
In general, noise without pain is not a problem, but noise accompanied by pain might be something
to be concerned about.
Because artificial joints are made of metal and plastic, it is not uncommon to hear clicking,
clunking, or popping when you bend the knee back and forth.
Although the goal for knee replacement is to last your lifetime, In some cases, they
may wear out sooner than expected.
Not every implant lasts a patient's lifetime, and in such cases, a second knee replacement
called a revision knee replacement, may be necessary.
What Precautions Should You Take After The Surgery?
Since total knee arthroplasty is an invasive procedure, you’ll have staples or sutures
on your wound.
You must never try to cut these sutures at home.
These sutures will only be removed by a practiced clinician after 2 weeks of the surgery.
You may worsen your wound if you try to cut the sutures yourself.
Don’t soak your wound in water before it’s properly dried and sealed.
However, you can keep bandaging your wound to keep it clean and dry.
There are also chances of blood clot formation during the first few weeks of recovery.
Your surgeon may prescribe certain anticoagulants like Aspirin and Warfarin to prevent clot
formation.
Also, you must stay vigilant regarding any sign of blood clot formation in your treated
leg.
These signs include Excessive pain in the calf, Redness, irritation, and tenderness
below or above the treated knee and increased swelling in your ankle, calf, or foot.
Are you scared of surgeries?
Have you ever gotten one?
Let us know in the comments section below!