Dr. Deepak Batra

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS A SIMPLIFIED VERSION FOR PATIENTS UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE:

Knee replacement surgery- which is also known as knee arthroplasty, helps to relieve the pain in the knee thereby restoring the knee function. During this procedure, a surgeon cuts the damaged cartilage and bone from the kneecap, thighbone, and shinbone and replaces the same with an artificial joint comprising of high-grade plastics, alloys, and polymers. A patient/surgeon has the liberty to choose the type of knee joint he/she prefers based on factors such as weight, age, overall health etc.

Signs that might indicate a knee replacement surgery

1. The pain in the knee keeps coming back all the time.
2. The knee aches after a brisk walk or during an ongoing exercise session.
3. The mobility of a person has gradually decreased over time as compared to last few years.
4. A supporting cane or medication isn’t delivering the desired support or pain relief.
5. The knee tends to stiffen when a person sits for a long time. Example- witting through a movie or sitting in the car for too long proves to be a major hurdle.
6. The pain proves to be a major problem that intervenes with sleep.
7. The knee motion significantly decreases once a person tries to bend the knee.
8. Climbing stairs turns out to be a major hurdle.
9. Getting out of bathtubs becomes a major challenge.
10. The knee becomes and stays stiff or at least half an hour after getting up from bed in the morning. If the stiffness lasts for more than 60 minutes, it is a sign of inflammatory disease.

How is a knee replacement surgery performed?

1. Knee replacement surgery requires overnight stay in the hospital.
2. It involves a general or spinal anesthesia.
3. Once the skin over the surgical site is cleansed with an antiseptic, the doctor makes an incision and takes out the damaged surface of the knee joint.
4. The knee joint is then resurfaced with a prosthesis made up of plastic and metal.

A cemented prosthesis is most commonly used during these days. The prosthesis contains 3 components

1. Tibial component 
2. Femoral component
3. Patellar component

What are the advantages of knee replacement surgery?

1. The biggest advantage of this surgery is the freedom from constant and throbbing pain.
2. The fact that surgery can increase the mobility also proves to be a blessing for the general condition of the patient.
3. Knee replacement also helps a patient to get rid of supporting device such as a cane, wheelchair, pain medications etc.
4. The feeling of stiffness also goes away after the surgery.