Hip Knee Arthroplasty

Knee Arthroplasty OR Total Knee Replacement

If nonsurgical treatments like medications and using walking supports are no longer helpful, you may want to consider total knee replacement surgery. Joint replacement surgery is a safe and effective procedure to relieve pain, correct leg deformity, and help you resume normal activities.  Severe osteoarthritis is the commonest indication for knee replacement.

I have performed more than 400 successful total Knee replacement surgery. Most of my patients are doing well. The youngest patient to have had TKR was 40 years and oldest was 85 years old.

Why do you need Knee Replacement Surgery

  • Severe knee pain or stiffness that limits your everyday activities, including walking, climbing stairs, and getting in and out of chairs. You may find it hard to walk more than a few blocks without significant pain and you may need to use a cane or walker
  • Moderate or severe knee pain while resting, either day or night
  • Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that does not improve with rest or medications
  • Knee deformity — a bowing in or out of your knee
  • Failure to substantially improve with other treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, lubricating injections, physical therapy, or other surgeries

Realistic Expectations

  • An important factor in deciding whether to have total knee replacement surgery is understanding what the procedure can and cannot do.
  • More than 90% of people who have total knee replacement surgery experience a dramatic reduction of knee pain and a significant improvement in the ability to perform common activities of daily living. But total knee replacement will not allow you to do more than you could before you developed arthritis.
  • We advise against  high-impact activities such as running, jogging, jumping, or other high-impact sports for the rest of your life after surgery.
  • Realistic activities following total knee replacement include unlimited walking, swimming, golf, driving, light hiking, biking, ballroom dancing, and other low-impact sports.
  • With appropriate activity modification, knee replacements can last for many years.

Failed Knee Replacement Surgery

All knee replacements contain a polythene bearing, and over a period of many years wearing of this bearing results in the accumulation of tiny fragments of polythene debris within the knee joint.  This causes a chronic inflammation, softening and damaging the supporting bone and eventually resulting in loosening of the replacement, which is the commonest mode of failure. Occasionally the polythene bearing collapses completely allowing the metal running surfaces to wear directly against each other releasing metallic debris, and very occasionally the replacement itself or the supporting bone cracks or fractures. Other causes of failure include deep infection or instability of either the knee cap joint or the knee joint itself.

 

Revision Knee Replacement

Most people who have a knee replacement have excellent relief of pain and a restoration of their quality of life. However, some people develop pain, or problems with their knee replacement that requires further surgery. This may be due to wearing of the bearing surfaces, loosening of the components, or infection. In this event you may need a revision of your knee replacement. If you are having trouble with your knee following a total knee replacement, Dr Debnath will assess, and advise you or your options regarding a revision knee replacement, and whether this is appropriate.

Whilst over 90% of people undergoing a total knee replacement have a good to excellent result, there are always potential problems which may complicate your recovery. Knee replacement surgery is major surgery, and while every effort is taken to minimize the risk of surgery, complications can still occur.

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