Preparing For Knee Replacement Surgery

The surgeon will perform a thorough evaluation and jot down the medical history. It helps him or her in assessing your overall health, the range of motion of your knees, the strength in your knees, and stability. Anesthesia is deposited before the surgery which may either be general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia.

Your doctor will ask about your preferences before depositing the anesthesia, whether you want to stay unconscious or conscious with no sensational in the lower body. The doctor will instruct you before the surgery regarding your diet and lifestyle. You might need to stop certain medications that your doctor asks you to stop. You will have to undergo surgery after overnight fasting.

You may clear your walking path and keep aside any object that may cause your falls. A little preparation on your part will ensure you are good to go for partial knee replacement or knee resurfacing surgery.

What to expect?

The surgeon will make an incision of around 8-10 inches and move your knee cap aside to remove the damaged section of your knee joints. After preparing this part, the surgeon will insert the artificial knee joints and attach the same. Before the final sutures, the surgeon will evaluate the condition and check if the knees are in proper function. The surgery will take around 2 hours to finish.

You will be asked to make little movements during your hospital stay that will prevent blood clots and swelling. You will have a physical therapist by your side to instruct you regarding your light exercises. You will recover faster only when you follow all the instructions from your medical team. However, it is important to avoid any heavy exercise or activities that your physical therapist has asked you to avoid.

Start to walk gradually for the mobility of your knees. You can proceed with other routine activities when you can balance and your knees hold enough strength to do the same. A majority of the patients experience decreased pain than what they had before surgery. Also, following the instructions from the doctor ensured a speedy recovery for them. So, you may expect the same results when you strictly follow the instructions and maintain your health.

You may expect increased stability and function after revision knee replacement. The doctor will discharge you the same day and within 3-4 weeks, you can start walking without support after partial knee replacement or knee resurfacing.

Post-operative instructions

The surgeon will shift you to the recovery room for a couple of hours. If you will stay in the hospital for a few days, you will be moved to the hospital room. You may take the medications prescribed by your doctor to get some relief whenever you feel pain.

Results of the surgery

A majority of the patients experience a better quality of life with improved movements and knee pain relief after Total Knee Replacement surgery. You can perform your routine activities after a couple of weeks when your knees get better. However, you must start performing activities only after a certain period and the ones with a low impact.

You must follow the instructions of your physical therapist and perform light physical activities or therapy exercises that help in recovery. If you are experiencing any difficulty or problem, you must consult your doctor immediately.

Recovery period

You might need the help of a walker after the surgery for a few days. It is advisable to make prior arrangements for someone to drive you back home and help you with your routine activities. You may opt for a personal caretaker if you live alone and will need help after the surgery.

• ● Ensure that you avoid climbing stairs after the surgery and stay on the ground floor.
• ● A handrail is a good idea near your shower to let you take some support.
• ● The chair you use must be stable with a cushion for support to the back.
• ● The chair must have a footstool for letting you elevate your legs.
• ● If you have any cords that obstruct your way or carpets, remove them for your safety.
• ● Partial knee replacement requires less time to recover. Also, you may expect recovery within 4-6 weeks if you undergo knee resurfacing
• ● Revision knee replacement may require quite a few months for recovery

Associated Risks

Total knee replacement surgery comes with its own set of risks. These may include heart attack, nerve damage, infection, stroke, and blood clots. You must immediately inform your doctor if you acquire an infection and are experiencing signs like fever, swelling, chills, and knee pain.

Your doctor might remove the artificial parts if the infection is big and recommend antibiotics to help you get better. He or she might reform another surgery for you knew

when the infection is clear and you are at no risk. The more the number of surgeries you undergo, the lesser the chances of a better outcome and better functioning.

Sometimes, the artificial joint fails to lead to a failed knee replacement surgery. Also, the metal or plastic parts used in the artificial knee may wear out with time. So, you must avoid strenuous activities and high-impact activities that increase your chances of experiencing risks.

Your activity level, weight, age, and surgical history may be responsible for the failure of the knee implants. You are at a higher risk of implant failure if you have obesity, are young, had prior knee surgery, or are an active patient.