Several health conditions and medical situations may require performance of a surgical process on the knee to provide replacement. A knee replacement surgery may become inevitable when resurfacing of knee joint parts becomes vital. Further, additional treatments may fail to control knee pain, which

Several health conditions and medical situations may require performance of a surgical process on the knee to provide replacement. A knee replacement surgery may become inevitable when resurfacing of knee joint parts becomes vital. Further, additional treatments may fail to control knee pain, which may also make you an ideal candidate for this surgery. Only an experienced surgeon can assess the knee and determine if it is a case for replacement surgery. 

About the Treatment

1.      What is the procedure?

Knee replacement surgery aims to reduce pain and reinvigorate the function of one's knees. A person usually undergoes this procedure when his/her knees have been damaged quite severely and resulted in a disability.

The steps of the procedure generally include –

• Firstly, the doctor will plan an Intravenous (IV) line on the hand or arm. A urinary catheter might be inserted, as well. If the surgical site has too much hair, then it will be clipped off.

• After that, the surgeon will cleanse the surgical area or site with an antiseptic and make an incision. Before doing so, he/she will apply general anesthesia to the patient.

• Now, he/she will start removing the surfaces of the patient’s knee joint and resurface the same with the prosthesis. It might be made up of either plastic or metal. The prosthesis will work on three areas – the shin bone, kneecap, and thighbone.

• Once the doctor is done cementing the prosthesis, he/she will close the incision with surgical staples and stitches. A drain may also be implemented to remove fluid from the site. A sterile dressing or bandage will be used as well.

When is Knee Replacement Surgery Recommended?

Some of the knee-related problems can be solved through medication and other treatment procedures. However, if none of them are working for the patient, then the surgeon might recommend knee replacement surgery over other procedures.

In general, the surgery is most recommended for the elderly individuals who are suffering from severe knee pain or decay. Nevertheless, in some cases, it might be prescribed for teenagers and adults, in case they have suffered an excessive tear and wear of the knee joint.

The symptoms, which might indicate the need of knee replacement surgery, are –

• Severe pain in the knees

• Chronic swelling and inflammation of the knees

• A persistent feeling of stiffness

• Unremitting and untreatable knee deformity

• Depression due to pain and discomfort 

2. Who Should Avoid Knee Replacement Surgery?

Unfortunately, in some cases, a surgeon would not be able to perform knee replacement surgery. These may include –

• The thigh muscles or quadriceps of the individual are extremely weak and, thus, would not be able to provide support to the knee joints.

• The person is suffering from chronic ulcers, which are located on or below their knees. They might increase the risk of infection in the patient.  

3. What are the Common Types of Knee Replacement Surgery?

The most prominent knee replacement surgeries are –

• Total knee replacement (for curing a severely-damaged and disabled knee)

• Partial or unicompartmental knee replacement (more prominent among the younger population with tears or wears in the knees)

• Patellofemoral arthroplasty (for treating arthritis, which has affected the Patellofemoral compartment of the knees)

• Revision or complex knee replacement (to re-fixate the implants and clean the bone surfaces)