When a knee replacement should be done?

Knee replacement surgery is usually necessary when the knee joint is painful or damaged so that your activity is reduced and you have pain even while sitting.

The most common reason for knee replacement surgery is osteoarthritis. Other problems that cause knee damage include:

• rheumatoid arthritis
• gout (high uric acid levels)
• death of bone in the knee joint following blood supply problems
• knee injury

Who should get knee replacement surgery?

Our best orthopedic doctor in Lahore Dr. Muhammad Bilal offers knee replacement surgery if simple treatments have not reduced pain or improved mobility. You should get an appointment with bestcare.pk to discuss further

You will need knee replacement surgery if:

• you have severe pain, swelling and stiffness in your knee joint
• your knee pain is so severe that it disturbs your quality of life and sleep
• everyday things, such as shopping or taking a bath, are difficult
• you’re feeling depressed because of the pain and difficulty in movements
• you cannot work or have a social life

Types of knee replacement surgery

There are 2 main types of surgery:

• total knee replacement – both sides of your knee joint are replaced
• partial (half) knee replacement – only 1 side of your joint is replaced (will need a second operation after few years)

Other surgery options

There are other types of surgery, but results are not as good as total knee replacement. Other types of surgery may include:

• arthroscopic washout– a tiny telescope (arthroscope) is inserted into the knee joint to wash out and clear any bits of bone or cartilage
• osteotomy – the surgeon cuts the bone and realigns it so that your weight is no longer carried by the damaged part of the knee
• mosaicplasty – a special keyhole surgery that involves putting plugs of hard cartilage, from another part of your knee, to repair the damaged surface

Preparing for knee replacement surgery

Before surgery, you should stay as active as you can. Make your muscles strong around your knee. This will make your recovery quick. Continue to do gentle exercise, such as walking and swimming, in the weeks and months before your operation. You can go to a physiotherapist, who will tell useful exercises.

Read about preparing for surgery, including information on travel arrangements, what to bring with you and attending a pre-operative assessment.

How it is performed

You’ll usually be admitted to hospital on the day of your operation. Our best orthopedic doctor in Lahore Dr. Muhammad Bilal will come and see you and answer any questions you have.

Knee replacement surgery is performed either under general anaesthetic (full sleep throughout the procedure) or under spinal anaesthetic or epidural (you are awake but have no feeling in legs).

The worn ends of the bones in your knee joint are removed and replaced with metal and plastic parts (a prosthesis) which have been measured to fit.

At bestcare.pk Dr. Muhammad Bilaluses knee replacements implants only made in the USA and UK with best-proven results in the world at the lowest affordable price in Lahore

Total knee replacement

In a total knee replacement, both sides of your knee joint are replaced. The procedure takes 1 to 3 hours:

• Your surgeon makes an incision on the front of your knee to expose your kneecap. This is then moved to the side to get to the knee joint behind it.
• The damaged ends of your thigh bone (Femur) and shin bone (Tibia) are cut away. The ends are precisely measured and shaped to fit the new artificial joint. A test is done to check that the joint is working properly. Adjustments are made, wounds are washed, and the final prosthesis is fitted.
• The end of your thigh and shin bones are replaced by a high quality specially designed metal plates. These are fixed using special bone ‘cement’. A plastic spacer is placed between the two metal plates and this acts like cartilage, helping in your joint movements.
• The back of the knee cap may also be replaced if needed
• The wound is closed with either stitches or clips and a dressing is applied. A splint is used to keep your leg immobile for a few days and then encouraged to move your knee as early as possible.

Partial (half) knee replacement

If only one side of your knee is damaged, you may be able to have a partial knee replacement. This is a simpler operation, which involves a smaller cut and less bone being removed. But you will need another operation after few years to do a total knee replacement.

The advantages of partial knee replacement include a shorter hospital stay and recovery period. This type of joint replacement often results in the more natural movement in the knee and you may be able to be more active than after a total knee replacement.

Talk to Dr. Muhammad Bilal about the type of surgery and why they think it’s the best choice for you.

Recovery from knee replacement surgery

You need to be in the hospital for 3 to 5 days.

Once you’re able to go home, your hospital will give you advice about looking after your knee at home. Use a frame or crutches at first and a physiotherapist will teach you exercises to make your knee strong.

Most people stop using walking aids around 6 weeks after surgery and start driving after 6 to 8 weeks.

Risks of knee replacement surgery

Knee replacement surgery is a common operation and success rate is 97%. Most people do not have any problems. However, as with any operation, there are few risks such as;

• stiffness of the knee
• infection of the wound
• deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• persistent pain in the knee
• bleeding into the knee joint
• ligament, artery or nerve damage in the area around the knee joint

In some cases, the new knee joint may not be completely stable and further surgery may be needed to correct it.