The knee is the largest joint
in your body, and healthy knees are required to perform most daily activities.
The knee has three main parts: the lower end of the thigh bone (femur), the
upper end of the shin (tibia), and the patella. The ends of these three bones
where they touch are covered with cartilage, a soft substance that protects the
bones and allows them to move easily. The menisci (plural of meniscus) are
located between the femur and the tibia. Long ligaments hold the femur and
tibia together and provide stability. The long thigh muscles strengthen the
knee. Normally, all these components work in harmony. But illness or injury can
distort this harmony, resulting in pain, muscle weakness, and reduced function.
The most common cause of
chronic knee pain is arthritis. Although there are many types of arthritis,
most knee pain is caused by only three types: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis,
and post-traumatic arthritis.
Knee replacement is a surgical
procedure that aims to replace a damaged knee joint with an artificial one.
This artificial joint is called a prosthesis. During the procedure, damaged
cartilage and bone are removed from the knee joint, then artificial pieces are
placed on the knee.
Who Is This For?
Treatment
Duration
1-2 hours
Potential Risks & Side Effects
Recovery Time
6 weeks
Success Rate: 85 – 90 %
Alternative Treatments
How Does it
Work?
Knee replacement, also known as
knee arthroplasty, is surgery to replace all or part of your knee
joint.
There are four basic steps of knee replacement surgery:
What Does Knee Replacement Treatment Involve?
1.
Consultation for Knee
Replacement Surgery
The first step to start your knee replacement process will be the online consultation as in every process. During this consultation, our specialist will ask you some questions to understand your story, complaints, and expectations. It will be also useful to learn your complete medical history to take into account any possible contraindication. The main target of this stage is to make sure whether you are a suitable candidate for knee replacement or not.
2.
Planning Your Trip and
Choosing the Clinic
After it is decided that you are the right candidate for the knee replacement procedure, we will share a list of the clinics and surgeons by filtering them according to the criteria we receive from you. Once you have done your selection, we proceed to the next stage which includes date determination and other detailed adjustments.
3.
Final Consultation with Your Surgeon
When you arrive at the clinic, you will have a face-to-face consultation with your knee replacement surgeon. In this consultation, the surgeon will review your general health. He or she will ask about your current knee pain or stiffness. Tell your doctor how pain or stiffness affects your daily activities or your ability to play sports. He may also ask you if you have fatigue, anxiety, or depression. You may need to stop some medications several weeks before surgery. These medications are blood thinners, like aspirin and ibuprofen. It also includes some antirheumatic drugs. Make sure your surgeon knows all the medications you are taking. Also, you should ask how long before surgery you should stop taking them. Your surgeon may direct you to do exercises to strengthen your leg muscles before surgery.
4.
Medical Examinations
Before the knee replacement process begins, your surgeon will conduct some necessary medical tests to make sure that you are in acceptable health status for the procedure. An x-ray screening will also be requested at this stage to complete surgery planning. Every patient is required to undergo medical tests to ensure that nothing will affect the success of the surgery and if any risk detected at this stage, surgeons may postpone the surgery and try to eliminate the primary risks first.
5. Surgery
Things You Should Consider After Knee Replacement Surgery
o
Your leg feels warm, tender, and sore. It
could see swollen and red.
o
You cannot walk or move your knee.
o
Blood soaks through the bandage.
o
The incision opens.
o
Your incision is red, swollen, or purulent.
o
You have a fever or chills.
o
You have trouble moving or flexing your knee.
o
You have new pain or the pain you felt before
does not get better with medicine.
o You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.
FAQ
Is Knee
Replacement Procedure Painful?
The procedure is performed under general anesthesia; therefore, patients you do not feel any pain during the knee replacement surgery. To ease the postoperative pain, your surgeon prescribes pain relievers.
What Are the Instructions About Doing Activities After Knee Replacement Surgery?
Our team will dedicate their effort and time to help you choose the clinic best for you. Our goal is not just to find ‘a doctor’ for you, but to find ‘the right doctor’.