Total Knee Replacement Surgery

Total knee replacement surgery (also known as total knee arthroplasty) often performed to relieve the pain and disability from degenerative arthritis. The surgery of nee replacement can be performed partially or completely depending on the quantum of damages on joint. When complete replacement of knee is performed to get relieve from the discomfort caused by the disease then it is called as total knee replacement surgery. Severe knee damage can be cause of debilitating pain include meniscus tears, osteoarthritis, cartilage defects, and ligament tears which are quite intolerable. Suffering with this problem may obstruct you to perform simple activities such as walking or climbing stairs and you often feel pain while you are sitting or lying down. This surgery is performed when other medications and treatments are not helping you anymore. The surgery of total knee replacement relieves your pain completely and allows you to be more dynamic and active.

The support of knee is lower end of the thighbone (femur), which turns around on the upper end of the shin bone (tibia), and the kneecap (patella), which slides in a groove on the end of the femur. The long thigh muscles give the knee strength. The joint surfaces where these three bones touch are covered with a smooth substance that cushions the bones and enables them to move easily. Normally, all of these components work smoothly. But trouble can appear either due to disease or injury that disrupt this synchronization, resulting in pain, muscle weakness, and reduced function.

Treatment begins after the hospitalization of patient. General anesthesia is used to perform the surgery smoothly so that patient will asleep throughout the procedure and will not experience the pain of surgery. Initially surgeon makes an incision over the knee and after the incision; a clear fluid is pumped into the knee area to remove any cloudy fluids that exposes the joint. Later with the help of instruments, the damaged surface is removed. Orthopedic surgeon removes the damaged cartilage and bone and then positions the new metal and plastic joint surfaces to restore the alignment that makes your knee functional. At last, surgeon shapes the ends of the bones to accept the implants.

The procedure of surgery usually takes approximately 2-3 hours. As the surgeon removes the damaged cartilage and bone and then positions the new metal and plastic joint surfaces to restore the alignment and function of your knee, your surgery is successfully completed. You will be monitored after the surgery at the hospital room for 1-2 hours. Patients can return home after a few days and begin their recovery program which will last several weeks. It is advised to the patient that starts some physical like -gradual walking, followed by the resumption of normal household activities such as climbing stairs after 3 to 4 weeks for speedy recovery. After a few months, you get complete recovery to carry your normal daily life.