Total knee replacement

History 

Total knee replacement surgery was first performed in 1968, and has evolved over the years into a reliable and effective way to relieve disabling pain and allow patients to resume their active lives. Improvements in surgical techniques and implant design and construction have helped make this one of the most successful orthopaedic procedures today. As the population has become older and remained more active, the need for total knee replacement continues to increase. Today, approximately 270,000 total knee replacements are done every year in the United States.

Many of the advancements in knee replacement surgery have taken place at HSS. Improvements in the surgical technique and the design of new implants are a few of the contributions the surgeons of the Hip and Knee service have made.

Decision to have surgery

People often wonder when and why they should have their knee replaced. This is an individualized question that depends upon a person's activity level and functional needs. Many people with arthritis live with pain that prevents them from participating in activities that they love; others are so debilitated that they have difficult putting on their shoes and socks. Total knee replacement offers a solution to the problem of arthritis and is performed with the goal of pain relief and resumption of activity. After a rehabilitation from a successful total knee replacement, a patient can expect to have at least as much motion as prior to surgery, without pain. According to a study presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, total knee replacement dramatically improves a patient's quality of life and significantly reduces his/her long-term treatment costs. This study found that not only was a total knee replacement cost-effective when compared with non-operative management, it also provided more function and a better quality of life.

A total knee replacement is considered a major operation, and the decision to undergo total knee replacement is not a trivial one. People usually decide to undergo surgery when they feel they can no longer live with the pain of their arthritis.

The prosthetic implant

The implant for a total knee replacement is composed of 4 parts: the tibial and femoral components, a plastic insert, and the patella. The tibial and femoral components are made out of metal, usually cobalt-chrome, and are used to cap the ends of the femur and tibia after the arthritic bone is removed. The plastic insert is made out of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and fits into the tibial component, such that the highly polished surface of the femur glides against the plastic. The patella component is also made of UHMWPE, and glides against the front of the femoral component. All together, the components weigh about 1 to 2 lbs. They are generally fixed to the bone with cement.

The procedure

The total knee replacement is performed in an operating room with a special laminar airflow system, which helps reduce the chance of infection. Your surgeon will be wearing a "spacesuit", also designed to reduce the chance of infection. The entire surgical team will consist of your surgeon, two to three assistants, and a scrub nurse.

The anesthesia for a total knee replacement is given through an epidural catheter, which is a small tube inserted into the back. This is the same type of anesthesia given to women in labor. You will be made numb from the waist down so that you will not feel anything. The catheter stays in for 1-2 days after the surgery to help with your postoperative pain control. During the course of the operation, you can be as awake or as sleepy as you want to be.

After the epidural block is administered, a tourniquet, or cuff, will be placed around your thigh. The tourniquet will be inflated during surgery to help reduce the loss of blood. The incision for a total knee replacement is made along the front of your knee. The incision will measure anywhere from 4 to 10 inches depending upon your anatomy.

The arthritic surfaces of the femur, tibia, and patella are exposed and removed with power instruments. In so doing, deformities of the knee are corrected, and the knee will appear straighter after surgery. The bone is prepared to receive the artificial knee joint, and then the prosthesis is inserted. During the closure, two drains are inserted around the operated area to assist with evacuation of blood. Staples are used to close the skin.

The entire operation will take from 1 to 2 hours. Afterwards, you will be brought to the recovery room, where your blood work and vital signs will be checked. Most patients can be brought to a regular room within a few hours; others will need to stay overnight in the recovery room, as determined by your surgeon and anesthesiologist. Patients generally stay in the hospital for 3-4 days following total knee replacement surgery.


Dr. Rajan's Knee Clinic is the best place to get all knee related problems. We Offers treatments for knee replacement, hip replacement, partial knee replacement, revision knee replacement, revision hip replacement, bilateral knee replacement, shoulder replacement, computer assisted surgery. He known as a Best orthopaedic surgeon in indore as well as a best doctor for knee pain in Indore. For More Details : https://www.drsunilrajan.com and call us 9826200015.

Please go through our social media :

like our page to know more about joint replacement surgeon.


Please do follow on Instagram


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Benefits of robotic knee replacement

Image
Knee replacement surgeries, methodology, techniques and technology have developed by leaps and bound in the last few decades. Total knee surgery has gone through so many transformations and has positively benefited the patients. The cost factor, the technology, quality of implants, minimally invasive techniques and reduced rehabilitation periods have all given the patients who were afraid of knee replacement going wrong. The pain, the rehabilitation time and the uncertainty attached to the total knee replacement were all detrimental to the thinking of persons troubled by knee pain. The latest in knee surgery has been Robotics Assisted surgery which helps in precisely shaping the surrounding bone before placing the knee implants and navigating precisely to the remotest area of the knee. A 3D model of the patient's knee can be generated to help in mapping the exact incisions and angles. Let us look into some major advantages a robotic surgery would have in comparison to a convention
Read more

Types of Arthritis Pain in Knee

Image
There are two main types of arthritis in the knee: Osteoarthritis: where there is degeneration of the bones Rheumatoid Arthritis: where there is inflammation in the joint 1. Osteoarthritis Of The Knee This is commonly known as “wear and tear” arthritis. Osteoarthritis is by far the most common cause of arthritis pain in knees affecting approximately 16 million people. Usually osteoarthritis of the knee is related to, but not caused by aging, most commonly affecting people over the age of 65. Other common terms used are "degenerative arthritis knee" or "arthrosis". In a normal, healthy knee joint, there is a reasonable sized gap between the bones (tibia and femur) due to a thick layer of cartilage and lubricating fluid.  The surface of the bones is nice and smooth and as the knee bends and straightens, the joint moves easily and painlessly due to the cushioning from the cartilage.  With osteoarthritis of the knee, a few things happen.
Read more

Shoulder Joint Replacement

Image
Although shoulder joint replacement is less common than knee or hip replacement, it is just as successful in relieving joint pain. Shoulder replacement surgery was first performed in the United States in the 1950s to treat severe shoulder fractures. Over the years, shoulder joint replacement has come to be used for many other painful conditions of the shoulder, such as different forms of arthritis. Today, about 53,000 people in the U.S. have shoulder replacement surgery each year, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. This compares to more than 900,000 Americans a year who have knee and hip replacement surgery. If nonsurgical treatments like medications and activity changes are no longer helpful for relieving pain, you may want to consider shoulder joint replacement surgery . Joint replacement surgery is a safe and effective procedure to relieve pain and help you resume everyday activities. Whether you have just begun exploring treatment opti
Read more