Total Knee Replacement Surgery
What is Total Knee Replacement?
Your knee joint is made of the lower end of the thigh bone (femur), upper end of shin bone
(tibia) and the knee cap (patella). These are covered by smooth cartilage which allows them to
glide smoothly. When the cartilage is worn away due to arthritis (either due to injury,
degeneration, inflammatory process), there is pain, stiffness and restricted movement of the
knee.
Total Knee Replacement is a surgical procedure in which the worn out or damaged surfaces of
the knee joint is removed and replaced with artificial components. This allows the knee to be
pain free and move smoothly aiming to establish healthy knee function similar to your native
knee & provide you with a superior quality of life.
Indications of Total Knee Replacement:
- Severe knee pain that limits your daily activities (such as walking, standing, getting up
from a chair or climbing stairs) - Moderate-to-severe pain that occurs during rest or awakens you at night
- Failure to obtain pain relief from medications, injections, physical therapy or other
conservative treatments
The reasons for severe osteoarthritis include:
- Primary Knee Osteoarthritis
- Post traumatic knee arthritis
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Knee fractures
Total Knee Replacement Procedure
Dr Jay Shah & his team will provide you with instructions on how to prepare before your
surgery. You will be admitted to the hospital an evening prior or on the day of surgery.
You will receive a regional (spinal) anaesthetic. In some patients general or epidural anaesthetic
may be required.
Dr Jay will make an incision on the front of your knee and expose your knee joint.
Using specialised instrumentation and jigs, the damaged/degenerated portion of the knee is
cut, sized and shaped to fit the components of the knee replacement. The knee joint is
balanced and trialled to ensure stability and correct alignment. The knee implants are then
fitted with the use of special bone cement and liner inserted.
An injection of medication designed to provide post surgery pain relief will be given within your
knee joint.
The knee will then be closed using stitches and clips
Following dressing of the wound you will be shifted to recovery and then to your room.
Post Surgery care
Usually you will spend 2-3 days in the hospital following a single total knee replacement.
You will be encouraged to begin certain movements immediately after surgery to aid in rapid
recovery.
A physiotherapist will also visit you and start you on your rehabilitation plan.
You are made to walk on the same day of surgery or at most by the next day.
Before leaving the hospital you will be made confident of walking, using the toilet and going up
and down a few stairs.
Before discharge appointments will be made for your follow ups and for removal of clips.
Advice At Home:
- You can expect some pain and it will reduce over a few days to weeks. The pain intensity is
different for everyone and you must remember to take your medication. - Swelling will gradually reduce over 1-2 months but may take even longer.
- You will be given instructions on bathing/showering, which you must follow.
- It is imperative to follow the rehabilitation plan, customised for you.
- Ensure all essential items (food, water, medication, mobile, walking aids) are nearby and the
toilet is accessible. - You must make sure there are no obstacles in your walking path to reduce chances of falls.
- Emergency contact numbers for the hospital, Dr Jay Shah and his team will be made
available.
