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Why you may need a Knee Replacement

There are several reasons why your doctor may recommend knee replacement surgery. Such as

1. Severe knee pain or stiffness that limits daily activities, including walking, climbing stairs, and getting in and out of chairs. Difficulty in walking more than a few blocks without significant pain and may need to use a cane or walker.

2. Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that does not go away by rest or medications

3. Knee deformity that does not substantially improve with other treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, lubricating injections, physical therapy, or other surgeries

Some other reasons for knee replacement surgery:

Arthritis is the most common cause of chronic knee pain and disability is arthritis that may require knee replacement. Although there are many types of arthritis, most knee pain is caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis.

1. Osteoarthritis: It is an age-related "wear and tear" type of arthritis, usually occurs in people 50 years of age and older, but may occur in younger people, too. In this type of arthritis, the cartilage that cushions the bones of the knee softens and wears away. The bones then rub against one another, causing knee pain and stiffness.

2. Rheumatoid arthritis: It is the most common form of disorder termed "inflammatory arthritis" in which the synovial membrane that surrounds the joint becomes inflamed and thickened. This chronic inflammation can damage the cartilage and eventually cause cartilage loss, pain, and stiffness.

3. Post-traumatic arthritis: This can follow a serious knee injury. Fractures of the bones surrounding the knee or tears of the knee ligaments may damage the articular cartilage over time, causing knee pain and limiting knee function.

What are types of knee replacement surgery?

There are two main types of surgery, depending on the condition of the knee:

1. Total knee replacement (TKR) – both sides of your knee joint are replaced
2. Partial (half) knee replacement (PKR) – only one side of your joint is replaced in a smaller operation with a shorter hospital stay and recovery period

Knee replacement procedure

1. Prepare the bone. The damaged cartilage surfaces at the ends of the femur and tibia are removed along with a small amount of underlying bone.

2. Position the metal implants. The removed cartilage and bone is replaced with metal components that recreate the surface of the joint. These metal parts may be cemented or "press-fit" into the bone.

3. Resurface the patella. The undersurface of the patella (kneecap) is cut and resurfaced with a plastic button. Some surgeons do not resurface the patella, depending upon the case.

4. Insert a spacer. A medical-grade plastic spacer is inserted between the metal components to create a smooth gliding surface.

Rehabilitation Post surgery

At Dr. Desale Knee replacement hospital in Nashik, a patient who has knee replacement surgery will be hospitalized for 1 to 3 days, depending on how well they follow and respond to rehabilitation.

There will be pain, but a day after the procedure, our medical staff will encourage patients to get up and try to walk about, usually with some kind of walking aid. It is important to follow the instructions given by the knee replacement doctor for rehabilitation.

Physical therapy sessions aim to strengthen the knee. These may be painful, but they significantly reduce the risk of future complications. Patients who do not have help at home may need to stay in the hospital for longer.