By resurfacing the bones that intersect at the knee joint, complete knee replacement surgery aims to alleviate knee pain and improve knee function. Dr. Sandeep Singh, who is one of the best orthopedic surgeon in Bhubaneswar, explains how an orthopedist replaces broken bone at the end of the femur (thighbone) and the top of the tibia (shinbone) with prosthetic parts. The back of the patella, or kneecap, is also resurfaced in some operations.
What exactly is a knee replacement procedure?
Knee replacement, also known as complete knee replacement or knee arthroplasty, is a surgical operation that resurfaces a knee that has been weakened by arthritis. The ends of the bones that make up the knee joint, as well as the kneecap, are capped with metal and plastic pieces. If you have serious arthritis or a severe knee injury, you may want to consider this surgery. The knee joint may be affected by a number of arthritis types. The loss of joint cartilage and adjacent bone in the knees may be caused by osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint condition that mostly affects middle-aged and older adults. Rheumatoid arthritis causes discomfort and stiffness by inflaming the synovial membrane and resulting in an accumulation of synovial fluid. Traumatic arthritis, or arthritis caused by an accident, may damage the cartilage in the knee.
Step-by-Step Knee Replacement Surgery Describe the situation
Surgical procedures vary depending on the needs of the patient and the surgeon’s method, but the measures are usually as follows:
- The patient’s vital signs are tested to ensure that blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and oxygenation levels are all within normal limits before surgery begins. On the knee that is undergoing surgery, a mark is made.
- The anesthesia team can prescribe peripheral nerve blocks to help with early postoperative pain management while allowing muscles to function safely and efficiently during physical therapy. The treatment includes injecting numbing medicine into a portion of the femoral nerve under ultrasound needle guidance for safe and successful placement. These procedures may be carried out both before and after surgery. They can also require a one-time injection lasting 24 to 36 hours or the insertion of a catheter for several days of infusions.
- The anesthetic is given. A general anesthetic may be administered to the patient (be put to sleep). Or a spinal nerve block with a relaxant, which can block sensation from the waist down. The type of anesthesia a patient receives is normally determined ahead of time, but it can be changed on the day of surgery after a conversation with the anesthesiologist.
The procedure’s justifications
Knee replacement surgery is used to treat knee pain and disability. Osteoarthritis is the most common disorder that necessitates knee replacement surgery.
The breakdown of joint cartilage is the hallmark of osteoarthritis. Damage to cartilage and bones restricts mobility and can result in pain. Because of the pain, people with extreme degenerative joint disease may be unable to perform regular activities that include bending at the knee, such as walking or ascending stairs. Since the joint is unstable, the knee can swell or “give-way.”
Degeneration of the knee joint can also be caused by other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis caused by a knee injury. Fractures, torn cartilage, and/or torn ligaments can also cause permanent damage to the knee.
Knee replacement surgery can be an appropriate option if medical therapies are unsuccessful. The following medical therapies for degenerative joint disease can be used, but are not limited to:
- Medications that reduce inflammation.
- Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are two forms of glucosamine.
- Pressure relievers.
- Limiting tasks that are painful.
- Assistive walking aids (such as a cane).
- Physical therapy is a type of treatment that involves the use of
- Injections of cortisone into the knee joint.
- injections of viscosupplementation (to add lubrication into the joint to make joint movement less painful).
- Loss of weight (for obese persons).