Knee Switch Replacement Things You Need to Know

Knee replacement surgery is a medical procedure performed by replacing a damaged knee joint with an artificial knee (prosthetic) joint. The goal is to to remove pain and restore knee joint function , so that patients can still use their knees as usual.

Knee Switch Replacement Things You Need to Know

The knee joint may be damaged by injury or inflammation ( art h ritis ), which may prevent the patient from performing daily activities. Damaged knee joints will cause knee pain when on the move, such as walking, climbing stairs, sitting, or lying down.

Before undergoing knee replacement surgery, the patient will first undergo a non-surgical treatment. Treatment can be either the provision of drugs or the provision of a buffer tool to help patients move on their knees. If non-self-treatment methods are not effective in relieving pain and relieve complaints, patients may undergo knee replacement surgery. The doctor will inform the patient when to undergo this procedure.

The damaged patient's knee joints will be replaced using a prosthetic joint made of metal. Through knee replacement surgery, the doctor will replace the tip of the femur, shin, leg, and knee bone with the prosthetic. Patients undergoing this procedure are usually elderly patients or patients suffering from severe arthritis.

Indication of Knee Replacement Operation

A common cause of a person having to undergo a knee replacement surgery is arthritis. However, arthritis itself is a lot of its kind, and the type of arthritis that often causes a person to have knee replacement surgery is:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when a person's knee joint is chronically inflamed due to an autoimmune disease that causes the knee to become difficult to function.
  • Osteoart Osteoarthritis occurs when a person's knee joint is inflamed due to age (degeneration). This condition is mostly experienced by the elderly. But in some cases, it happens also at a young age.
  • Posttraumatic arthritis ( post-traumatic arthritis ) . This type of joint arthritis can result from serious injury to the knee joint .

People with knee arthritis will find it difficult to perform knee-like activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, or getting up from a sitting position, crouching, and sleeping. If the arthritis is severe enough, knee pain will still be felt even if the patient is not using his knee, for example when resting.

Before being recommended by a doctor to undergo knee replacement surgery, patients will be recommended to undergo treatment without surgery. For example, through the provision of drugs, among others:

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
  • Corticosteroids.
  • Joint supplements, such as glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate.

In addition to the use of drugs, patients may also undergo other handling procedures to relieve knee arthritis, such as:

  • Physiotherapy.
  • Use of tools to walk and move, such as a stick or a brace tool .
  • Diet to lose weight, especially in people art h ritis who is also suffering from obesity.
  • Restrict physical activity, especially those that rely on knees or feet.

If these treatments are not effective in relieving knee pain due to arthritis, the new doctor will then recommend the patient to undergo a knee replacement surgery.

Knee Replacement Knee Warning

Not all patients with knee arthritis can undergo knee replacement surgery. Some conditions that cause a patient art h ritis can not undergo this procedure, among others:

  • Suffering from septic arthritis .
  • Suffering from severe blood vessel disease.
  • Are suffering from an infection, even if the location of the infection is not on the knee or near the knee.
  • Suffers from functional abnormalities of the leg muscle.

There are also conditions that cause patients with knee arthritis to have surgery with special treatment or supervision, among others:

  • Patients with obesity.
  • Has a history of osteomyelitis around the knee.
  • Have a condition or skin disease that can interfere with surgery results, for example psoriasis.

Prepare for Knee Replacement Operation

The patient will first undergo an examination to ensure the need for knee replacement surgery is performed. Examinations that can be undertaken by patients, among others are:

  • General health history checks
  • General physical examination
  • X-rays
  • Blood test
  • MRI
  • CT scan

If based on these examinations the patient is required to undergo a knee replacement surgery, the doctor will inform the patient of the surgical procedure. The doctor will also ask the patient to stop taking certain medications, especially blood-thinning drugs. The doctor will also inform the type of anesthesia (anesthetic) that will be used during surgery. If the patient has a reaction allergy to the anesthesia, the patient should notify the doctor prior to the operation.

About 8 hours before surgery, the patient will be asked to fast by the doctor, usually fasting starts at midnight. If the patient is pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should discuss with your doctor about the pregnancy. Patients will also be asked by the doctor to be accompanied by family members before and after surgery, especially for home-to-hospital transfer. Patients can also discuss with relatives related to postoperative recovery period, especially regarding home environment, so that patients can move easily. Patients can also start exercises using a walker during the preparation period so that when it comes to recovery, the patient is familiar with the tool. Patients will be given antibiotics before, during, and after surgery to prevent infection, as well as tranquilizers to help patients stay relaxed and calm during surgery.

Knee Replacement Procedure

At the beginning of the knee replacement surgery procedure, the patient will be asked to change his clothes with special surgical clothing. The patient will then be asked to lie on the operating table and will be given general anesthesia, so will not be conscious during the operation. To hold the urine out during surgery, the patient will be fitted with a catheter in his urethra. If there are many hairs at the surgical location, the hair will be shaved for a clean surgical area.

The knee skin area will then be smeared with antiseptic fluid to avoid infection during and after surgery. After that, the doctor will then make a skin incision (incision) in the knee area, which is about 6-10 cm, to open the knee. The orthopedic doctor will then cut and remove the damaged knee joints, and replace them with prosthetics. Knee joint replacement methods commonly done to patients, among others are:

  • Total knee replacement. Total knee replacement is done by replacing all parts of the knee joint, including kneecap bone, partial femur, shins, and calf bone. In addition to replacing bones, joints and knee joints are also replaced with metal or plastic.
  • Partial knee replacement Partial knee replacement is done by cutting bones and joints only on the inflamed part. If inflammation occurs in the knee joints in the femur, then the doctor will only cut the bone and replace the joints in this section. Partial knee replacement allows the patient to undergo a faster recovery period than the total knee replacement. However, there is the possibility of patients having to undergo surgery if inflammation of the knee joint spreads to other parts.
  • Bilateral knee replacement. Bilateral knee replacement is a knee replacement surgery performed on both knees at the same time. Patients undergoing bilateral knee replacement are only those who have been diagnosed with arthritis in both knees. Bilateral knee replacement allows the patient to undergo both joints at one time. However, patients will undergo a longer recovery period.

After the installation of the prosthetic knee joint has been completed, the doctor will then test whether the prosthetic knee is working properly or not. The trick is to bend and rotate the knee in the condition the patient is still unconscious. If prosthetic knee testing has been completed, the doctor will close the sliced ​​slices with a sewing thread, then covered with sterile bandages to prevent infection of the knee joint. Knee replacement surgery usually lasts about 2 hours. After the surgery is complete, the patient will be taken to the inpatient room for post-operative recovery.

After Knee Replacement Operation

The patient will experience pain around his knee after undergoing surgery. This is a normal symptom felt by the patient during the recovery process. To relieve pain, doctors will give pain medication. In order to avoid the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis, doctors can administer blood-thinning medications. In addition, patients are also encouraged to move the feet and heels during recovery, so that blood flow in the legs is maintained.

During the hospitalization period, doctors and medical personnel will assist patients to perform breathing exercises, and begin physical activity using the knee. Both methods are part of the recovery period, and can be performed either in the hospital or at the patient's home during the outpatient. This exercise should be done routinely so that patients can get used to the already installed prosthetic knee. In addition, the doctor will provide a list of foods to avoid and consume during recovery.

The post knee replacement recovery period generally lasts about 3-6 weeks. After recovery is complete, the patient is able to do light physical activity around the house. New patients may drive if they are used to prosthetic knees, and if they are not taking pain medication. As for the physical activity is quite heavy, should be avoided. For example, doing sports that are prone to knee clashes, such as soccer.

Currently, the success rate of knee replacement surgery is quite good, which is about 90 percent. Most patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery no longer feel pain in their knees. By adjusting physical activity, the results of knee replacement surgery can last up to a dozen years.

Knee Replacement Knee Risk

Knee replacement surgery is currently very safe to live, and rarely cause side effects or complications. These rare risks include:

  • Stroke.
  • Infection.
  • Nerve damage to the operating area.
  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Heart attack

Particularly infections, patients should be aware of their symptoms during recovery. If symptoms of infection appear during recovery, the patient should immediately notify the relevant physician. Symptoms to watch out for include:

  • Fever.
  • Liquid discharge from operating location
  • Occurrence of swelling, redness and pain in the area of ​​operation.
  • Have a cold sweat.

Other complications to watch out for are the wear or tear of the already installed prosthetic knee joint. Ausnya knee joints can occur more quickly if the patient often performs heavy physical activity or often lifting heavy loads.

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