What is knee replacement surgery?
Knee replacement surgery is one of the most common bone surgeries. It involves replacing the damaged part of a knee with an artificial joint which is typically made from plastic or metal.
Materials like acrylic cement are then used to attach the artificial joint to the kneecap, thigh bone and shin.
What are the four main types of knee
replacement surgery?
- Total knee replacement, which replaces both the surfaces of
thin and thigh bone - Partial knee replacement, which is sometimes used for
arthritis sufferers - Kneecap replacement, which replaces the kneecap’s under-surface
- Complex knee replacement, typically for patients who have
already had a knee replacement surgery.
Mr Mann will diagnose your condition and in the case of knee replacement surgery, can advise on the approach best suited to your personal needs.
What can I expect from the procedure?
Prior to knee replacement surgery, you will discuss the procedure with Mr Mann, and complete a consent form. Knee replacement surgery typically requires a general anaesthetic, and patients will discuss this with an anaesthetist prior to entering the operating room.
The surgery itself can last from one to two hours. Your expert surgeon will make an incision in the knee area before removing the damaged surfaces of the knee joint. The knee joint is then resurfaced with the prosthesis (artificial joint) before the incision is stitched or stapled up, and fluid removed from the area.
You will be carefully monitored post-surgery, and typically will stay in hospital for a few days, before returning home to rest.
Why might I need knee replacement surgery?
The most likely reason for someone to require knee replacement surgery is osteoarthritis, which is a condition that involves the deterioration of the cartilage that cushions the bone and knee joints.
Other reasons for knee replacement surgery include: deformities such as bowed legs, loss of blood flow, rheumatoid arthritis and knee injuries such as a torn ligament or broken bone, such as the kind sustained through sports or repetitive strain.
What is the recovery time?
Normal leisure activities can usually be resumed within six weeks of knee replacement surgery, although pain and swelling can take up to around three months to subside.
Mr Mann will be sure to advise on the best way to promote a quick and full recovery, ensuring that you’re back to feeling like yourself in no time.
If you have any questions about knee replacement surgery or would like to make an enquiry, please get in touch using the contact form.
Postoperative period and recovery
Remember that below is a guide to recovery and that everyone heals at different rates and some people do take longer. Use this information to help you understand your condition, possible treatment and recovery. The timeframes given below are a minimum, it is important that you appreciate this when considering surgery as your healing and recovery may take longer.
After your operation, a routine enhanced programme of recovery will commence. The main parallel work streams of this programme are as follows:
Associated conditions
Knee osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition. It is a “wear and tear” process involving the joint cartilage. As the wear process progresses it produces abnormal joint loading which in turn leads to the gradual onset of pain, deformity and loss of function.