Questions About Knee Replacement Surgery

Among the most frequently applied surgical treatment methods in the field of prosthetic surgery knee replacement surgery is located. In severely diseased knees, prosthesis surgery is applied in order to relieve pain and restore the function of the knee. In the prosthetic surgery performed by orthopedic physicians, the damaged joint is replaced with a prosthesis consisting of special metal alloys and other components. The prosthesis mounted on the patient's knee assumes the task of the knee joint.

What Should Be Done Before Knee Replacement Surgery?

Knee prosthesis surgery is applied to the patient as a last resort, especially in cases where knee pain due to calcification affects the patient's life negatively and other treatment options do not yield results, especially in elderly patients. Before prosthetic surgery, the patient's complaints are listened to and the patient is examined. If the patient has additional diseases accompanying his current disease, controls are made regarding these diseases.

Before the decision of surgery is made, a physical examination is performed to evaluate the patient's knee range of motion and the condition of the leg. The degree of deformity of the knee injury is determined by various radiological imagings. Whether the patient has an infection or not is revealed after the control of physicians in other branches. If the patient has an infection, the infection is eliminated first and then the surgery is performed.

How is Knee Replacement Surgery Performed?

Worn and worn knee joint due to obesity and rheumatic diseases may cause pain and loss of movement in the future. If the methods such as drug therapy and physical therapy applied to the patient are insufficient, the type of prosthesis to be applied in the knee replacement surgery is decided. If only part of the knee is damaged, the patient half knee replacement is applied. Half knee prostheses are applied to the inner side of the knee, which is the most affected area, in patients with intact knee ligaments. If more than one part of the knee is damaged, total knee prosthesis is applied to the patient.

Knee replacement surgery is performed under anesthesia or general anesthesia from the waist down. In the knee prosthesis operation performed with the open surgical method, the damaged, worn and worn joint surfaces are cleaned. The areas at the ends of the bones are removed and a prosthesis is placed on the bone. Thanks to the placed prosthesis, bone contact is cut and pain is eliminated.

How Many Hours Does Knee Replacement Surgery Take?

Although the duration of the operation varies depending on various factors, the operation is usually completed within 45 minutes and 1 hour. Depending on the complaints of the patients who have problems in both knees and the examinations performed, two knee surgical operations can be performed at the same time. For the needs of the patient who has bilateral knee prosthesis total knee replacement or half knee replacement can be done. This may also affect the duration of knee replacement surgery.

Is Knee Replacement Surgery a Risky Operation?

Every surgical operation has various risks within itself. For this reason, knee replacement surgeries also have some risks. Risks such as clot formation and infection are among the risks involved in every surgery. Risks that may occur are prevented by existing protective methods. Paying attention to the foci of infection before the operation and careful care of the wound after the operation also minimizes the risk of infection. Among the risks that appear in prostheses is the loosening of the prosthesis over time. In order to prevent loosening of the prosthesis, the patient should lose weight and exercise regularly.

What Should Be Considered After Knee Replacement Surgery?

There are different types of knee prostheses applied to the patient by orthopedic surgeons for the needs of the patient. In order for the knee prosthesis applied to the patient to be long-lasting and to prevent complications that may occur after the operation, there are some rules that the patient must follow after the operation. After knee replacement surgery, movements that will force the artificial prosthesis, which is placed on the damaged knee joint of the patient and takes on the role of the knee, should be avoided. Praying, cross-legged, using a Turkish style toilet will force the knee prosthesis and shorten its life.

administered to the patient half knee replacement Or, regular sports and weight control should be provided to prolong the life of the total knee replacement and slow down the wear. After the prosthesis surgery, activities such as walking, running, swimming and cycling can be done easily. Generally, patients can return to their normal daily lives 6 weeks after the surgery. During and after this period, patients should do the exercise programs recommended by the physician without interruption.

• Heavy sports should be avoided.
• Movements that force the knee joint should be avoided.
• The knee joint should be protected from traumas such as falling and hitting.
• Nutrition should be given importance in order to protect bone and muscle health.
• Physician controls should be attended without delay.