Knee joint replacement

Knee joint replacement is a surgery to replace a knee joint with a man-made joint. The artificial joint is called a prosthesis .

Prosthesis

A prosthesis is a device designed to replace a missing part of the body or to make a part of the body work better. Diseased or missing eyes, arms, h...

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Description

Damaged cartilage and bone are removed from the knee joint. Man-made pieces are then placed in the knee.

These pieces may be placed in the following places in the knee joint:

• Lower end of the thigh bone. This bone is called the femur. The replacement part is usually made of metal.
• Upper end of the shin bone, which is the large bone in your lower leg. This bone is called the tibia. The replacement part is usually made from metal and a strong plastic.
• Back side of your kneecap. Your kneecap is called the patella. The replacement part is usually made from a strong plastic.

You will not feel any pain during the surgery. You will have 1 of these 2 types of anesthesia:

• General anesthesia . This means you will be asleep and unable to feel pain.

  General anesthesia

  General anesthesia is treatment with certain medicines that puts you into a deep sleep so you do not feel pain during surgery. After you receive the...

   

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• Regional ( spinal or epidural ) anesthesia. Medicine is put into your back to make you numb below your waist. You will also get medicine to make you sleepy. And you may get medicine that will make you forget about the procedure, even though you are not fully asleep.

  Spinal or epidural

  Spinal and epidural anesthesia are medicines that numb parts of your body to block pain. They are given through shots in or around the spine....

   

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After you receive anesthesia, your surgeon will make a cut over your knee to open it up. This cut is often 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 centimeters) long. Then your surgeon will:

• Move your kneecap (patella) out of the way, then cut the ends of your thigh bone and shin (lower leg) bone to fit the replacement part.
• Cut the underside of your kneecap to prepare it for the new pieces that will be attached there.
• Fasten the 2 parts of the prosthesis to your bones. One part will be attached to the end of your thigh bone and the other part will be attached to your shin bone. The pieces can be attached using bone cement or screws.
• Attach the underside of your kneecap. A special bone cement is used to attach this part.
• Repair your muscles and tendons around the new joint and close the surgical cut.

The surgery takes about 2 hours.

Most artificial knees have both metal and plastic parts. Some surgeons now use different materials, including metal on metal, ceramic on ceramic, or ceramic on plastic.

Why the Procedure Is Performed

The most common reason to have a knee joint replaced is to relieve severe arthritis pain. Your doctor may recommend knee joint replacement if:

• You are having pain from knee arthritis that keeps you from sleeping or doing normal activities.
• You cannot walk and take care of yourself.
• Your knee pain has not improved with other treatment.
• You understand what surgery and recovery will be like.

Most of the time, knee joint replacement is done in people ages 60 and older. Younger people who have a knee joint replaced may put extra stress on the artificial knee and cause it to wear out early.

Before the Procedure

Always tell your health care provider what drugs you are taking, even drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription.

During the 2 weeks before your surgery:

• Prepare your home .

  Prepare your home

  Hip or knee surgery - getting your home ready; Osteoarthritis - knee

   

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• Two weeks before surgery you may be asked to stop taking drugs that make it harder for your blood to clot. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin), and other drugs.
• You may also need to stop taking medicines that can make your body more likely to get an infection. These include methotrexate, Enbrel, or other medicines that suppress your immune system.
• Ask your provider which drugs you should still take on the day of your surgery.
• If you have diabetes, heart disease, or other medical conditions, your surgeon will ask you to see the provider who treats you for these conditions.
• Tell your provider if you have been drinking a lot of alcohol, more than 1 or 2 drinks a day.
• If you smoke, you need to stop. Ask your providers for help. Smoking will slow down wound and bone healing. Your recovery may not be as good if you keep smoking.
• Always let your provider know about any cold, flu, fever, herpes breakout, or other illness you have before your surgery.
• You may want to visit a physical therapist to learn some exercises to do before surgery.
• Set up your home to make everyday tasks easier.
• Practice using a cane, walker , crutches , or a wheelchair correctly.

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On the day of your surgery:

• You will most often be asked not to drink or eat anything for 6 to 12 hours before the procedure.
• Take the drugs you have been told to take with a small sip of water.
• You will be told when to arrive at the hospital.

After the Procedure

You will stay in the hospital for 3 to 4 days . During that time, you will recover from your anesthesia and from the surgery itself. You will be asked to start moving and walking as soon as the first day after surgery.

Full recovery will take 4 months to a year.

Some people need a short stay in a rehabilitation center after they leave the hospital and before they go home. At a rehabilitation center, you will learn how to safely do your daily activities on your own.

Outlook (Prognosis)

The results of a total knee replacement are often excellent. The operation relieves pain for most people. Most people DO NOT need help walking after they fully recover.

Most artificial knee joints last 10 to 15 years. Some last as long as 20 years before they loosen and need to be replaced again. Total knee replacements can be replaced again if they get loose or wear out. However, in most cases the results are not as good as the first time. It is important not to have the surgery too early so you will need another surgery at a young age or have it too late when you will not benefit the most.