Patient Info
What does a normal knee look like?
The Knee is the largest synovial joint made up of four bones. It consists of femur or thighbone the bone above. The tibia or shinbone below. The patella/kneecap is the small bone in front of the knee and rides on the knee joint as the knee bends.
This synovial joint is lined by synovium which produces fluid lubricating and nourishing the inside of the joint.
Articular cartilage is the smooth surfaces at the end of the femur, tibia and undersurface of patella. It is the damage to this surface which causes arthritis.
What does an arthritic knee look like?
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that occurs when the cartilage in the knee joint wears away, causing the bones to rub together. This can lead to pain, stiffness, swelling, and limited movement.
It is seen more commonly in elderly females more than 50 years of age and in patients with repititive stress injuries.
What is a Knee replacement surgery?
Knee replacement surgery is a surgical procedure designed to replace the damaged or diseased surfaces of the knee joint with artificial components. This procedure is typically performed to relieve pain and restore function in individuals suffering from severe knee arthritis or other debilitating knee conditions.
When should one undergo a Knee replacement surgery?
- Persistent chronic pain
- Reduced functional mobility.
- Joint deformity.
- Reduced participation in work or hobbies.
- Lack of significant improvement with conservative measures, including physical therapy, weight management, bracing, and pharmacologic medications.
- Temporary relief from corticosteroid injections without long-term benefits.
Advanced cartilage and bony erosions evident on X rays or MRI is crucial for optimum benefit from a knee replacement surgery.
Preoperative x rays, scannograms and blood workup is done. Preoperative anaesthetic fitness is taken before surgery.
How is the recovery after a Knee replacement surgery?
Post operatively patient is made to walk with walker support within 12 hours of surgery.
Antibiotics and painkillers are given as required.
Patients are adviced to gradually use a walking stick and then walk without support as comfortable.
Suture removal is done 14 days after surgery.
The arthritic pain is completely gone immediate postoperative.
But the surgical pain persists for sometime. 2/3rd of recovery happens within 3 months of surgery and remaining recovery is gradually completed till one year post surgery.
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