Knee joint replacement, also known as knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure to replace the knee joint with an artificial joint, which is called a prosthesis.
This operation includes removing the damaged bone and cartilage from the femur, tibia and sometimes the patella and then replacing it with an artificial joint made of metal, plastic and polymer alloy. During knee joint replacement surgery, an incision is made in the front of the knee to create a suitable space to access the knee joint.
The most common reason for knee replacement surgery is to relieve arthritis pain. People who need knee replacement surgery usually have difficulty walking, climbing stairs and getting up from a chair. This surgery can help reduce pain and improve knee function
In what cases is knee joint replacement surgery performed?
Knee replacement surgery is a treatment for knee pain and disability. Osteoarthritis is characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage. Damage to cartilage and bones limits movement and may cause pain.
People with severe joint disease may be unable to perform their normal daily activities, including bending the knee, walking or climbing stairs, and sitting and standing, because they experience severe pain.
Other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and traumatic arthritis of the knee, may also lead to degeneration of the knee joint. In addition, fractures, cartilage tears, or torn ligaments may result in irreversible damage to the knee joint.
In such cases, in order to get rid of the pain, the person should consult a specialist doctor, at first, the patient is prescribed medicine and also changes in daily activities.If all these things are done, but the patient does not recover, joint replacement surgery is performed
What is the best age for knee joint replacement?
Knee replacement surgery is mainly performed on elderly people with severe arthritis, while people under 50 are considered young and asked to wait until age 65. This is because the artificial joints used in knee replacement surgeries only last about 15 to 20 years. Another major reason why younger people are recommended non-surgical treatments rather than surgical treatments is that if they have a knee arthroplasty, they are more likely to need replacement of their artificial joint again as the implants wear out over time.
Studies have shown that the best age for knee arthroplasty is between 60 and 70 years
Benefits of knee replacement surgery
This surgery should be used when drug treatments have no effect on pain and inflammation and the joint has failed. Joint replacement surgery has many advantages that can have a significant impact on the quality of life and activities of a person. The most common of these benefits are:
pain relief
Knee surgery can effectively relieve the debilitating knee pain you feel when you walk, run, stand, or even sit or lie down
Increased mobility
After surgery, most knee replacement patients can move their knees more easily, and with improved knee pain, they can perform exercises that further improve their health and generally lead to an improvement in their quality of life.
Improve joint performance
In addition to increased mobility, many people find that after a total knee replacement their overall function improves and they continue their activities more independently than before
Reduce drug dependence
Many people are able to reduce or eliminate their need for pain medication after total knee replacement because their pain is significantly reduced
Care after knee replacement surgery
After knee replacement, it usually takes 2-3 weeks for the patient to be able to move his leg. The average recovery time after knee replacement surgery is about six months, but it takes about 12 months to fully return to vigorous physical activity. Although the recovery process can be longer, there are steps that can help speed up the patient’s recovery, and this varies depending on the person’s age and general health.
The patient should rest as much as possible at home. It is recommended to start walking for short distances with the help of a cane and a walker a few days after the surgery. One thing to note is that pressure should not be applied to the knee joint while walking and avoid activities such as exercising and cycling for a few weeks after surgery.If you have knee pain that interferes with your life and you want to know if knee joint replacement can help or not, contact us at Dr. Hossein Haji Taghi’s office.
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