Knee replacement surgery is a surgical procedure that replaces the knee joint with an artificial one. Knee replacement surgery is usually required for a knee damaged by arthritis or severe knee-joint injury. The surgery helps overcome pain and other problems caused due to restricted movement.
Given below are some of the conditions that a knee replacement can treat:
Osteoarthritis, also known as age related or wear-and-tear arthritis, is the most prevalent arthritis in the knees. It makes bones thick and roughens the joints’ surface. Due to this, the knee gets painful and stiff, and its movement is restricted. Osteoarthritis, if left untreated, gets worse with time.
Rheumatoid arthritis, also referred to as inflammatory arthritis, is an autoimmune disease. The synovial membrane that envelopes the knee joint starts to swell in this condition. The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in the knee include:
Post-traumatic arthritis is often characterized by damage to the knee’s cartilage due to a traumatic injury. Its symptoms are generally the same as Osteoarthritis.
There are two types of replacement surgeries, namely:
In total knee replacement surgery, all the weight-bearing surfaces of the upper and lower bones of the knee joint are taken out and then replaced with prosthetics that mimic the original knee joint functions.
Partial knee replacement replaces only the damaged inner (medial) weight-bearing surfaces of the upper and lower bones of the knee joint with a customized prosthesis that enables smooth joint movement.
The steps of a knee replacement procedure are described below:
A 6-8 inch long incision is made at the knee joint site, and the muscles and ligaments are separated. It is done to gain access to the patella or the kneecap.
Once the surgeon gains access to an open knee, they rotate the kneecap to better observe the target area.
The surgeon resurfaces the femur, also called the thighbone. Then, after taking careful measurements of the damaged bones and cartilage, they are taken out of the site.
The doctor then attaches the femoral metal component to the end of the thighbone. To seal it into the place, bone cement is used.
In order to resurface the tibia, the cartilage, and damaged bone are removed from the top of the tibia. Then the bone is shaped so that the metal and plastic tibial components can be fixed properly.
Then using bone cement, the tibial tray is attached to the tibia and secured into place. Then the surgeon fixes a plastic spacer on the metal tray of the tibial component.
Prior to readjusting the patella to its normal position, the surgeon flattens and fits the patella using an additional plastic component.
Extra worn-out surfaces of the knees are trimmed off using specialized instruments. Finally, the surgeon closes the incision.
The advantages of a knee replacement are listed below:
The recovery time of knee replacement is the time it takes to heal and regain full functionality after surgery. With the recent minimally invasive computer navigated technique pt is able to stand and walk few hours after the surgery.It is observed that patients typically return to their daily activities within six weeks, but it takes up to 8-12 weeks to perform physically demanding tasks. The recovery time for a knee replacement varies depending on the following factors:
The average Knee replacement surgery cost in India lies somewhere between Rs.1,50,000 to Rs.2,00,000 for one knee which is quite low compared to western countries. The Knee replacement surgery cost varies for every individual depending on the following factors:
Dr. Tushar Ubale is one of the best orthopedic specialists and knee replacement surgeons in Mumbai. He performs surgery with great precision and care. So if you’re referring to a patient for knee replacement surgery in Mumbai, book your appointment beforehand.
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