Sunday 26 October 2014

WHAT IS KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY? YOU MIGHT NEED ONE

What is Knee Replacement Surgery?
The healthroute
Knee Replacement Surgery or Arthroplasty, is the procedure during which the weight bearing or damaged part of the knee joint are replaced by an Implant. This surgery helps the patient for pain relief and overcoming disability. There are two types of Knee Replacement Surgeries – one knee joint replacement (Unilateral), replacement of both knee joints (Bilateral or total knee replacement)

Reasons for Knee Joint Damage?

The knee joint gets worn down with age. The other reasons for Knee deterioration are:

 1.   Osteoarthritis 2.   Rheumatoid Arthritis 3.   Gout or infection 4.   Obesity is also a major cause of Knee Joint wear & tear

What does the new Knee joint do?
Alleviate Pain |Improve Movement | Enable Normal Functioning

How is Knee damage diagnosed?

1. Knee damage causes pain or swelling in the joint you have severe pain, swelling and stiffness in your knee joint and your mobility is reduced

​2. Your knee pain is so severe that it interferes with your quality of life and sleep. Everyday tasks, such as shopping or getting out of the bath, are difficult or impossible you cannot work or have a normal social life 3. An X ray is generally sufficient to indicate the wear and tear of the Knee Joint. However in some cases an MRI might be done to exclude soft tissue pathology.

Step 1:
The anesthetist puts the patient under general anesthesia (the procedure is conducted while the patient is sleeping) or an epidural (only the lower body is under anesthesia) 
Step 2:
The surgery team takes over and starts and makes in an incision into the knee which requires a joint replacement.
The new joint is now implanted and the bone is prepared to house the new implant. There are many types of implants available to surgeons, in India we use US FDA approved joints which are world class. NAV3 machines are used to precisely guide the surgeons for a perfect placement of the joint.
The hospital stay is usually 3-4 days
Step 3:
The patients are guided by specialists in the hospital into an exercise regimen, this require about 4-6 weeks.
During this period the patient is given special exercises, which promote quick healing and settling of the new joint in the body.
These exercises also help the patient to get used to the knee joint. Usually a patient needs a walking aid for about 4-6 weeks and post this period patients are able to resume normal activity.



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