Many people are turning to total knee replacement surgery as the ultimate answer to arthritis laden joints that have become too painful to live with daily. The future looks bright for those medical services that offer total replacement surgery because of the epidemic of obesity that certainly promises to also destroy many knees in the coming decades. The newest designs of joint replacements are a far cry from the earlier man-made joints that often brought little mobility to their users. Depending on the age of the patient, many people are enjoying an almost same life scenario as before their natural joint ever began deteriorating. Activities that had to be curbed or completely discontinued are now being enjoyed again by many patients who have had this procedure performed.
During this operation, the surgeon cuts away damaged bone and cartilage. Total knee replacement surgery often involves the thighbone, shin and kneecap. It is replaced with a state of the art prosthesis that is made of metals alloys, plastics and polymers. In the first generation of joints, the differences between them and door hinges were slim, but 21st century joints are designed to actually mimic the naturals ability to roll and glide as it bends. Specific knees are designed with weight, age and activity level of the patients and the type of joint used also takes into account the overall health of the patient. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are they works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalm 139:14)
Over three hundred thousand kneejoint operations are performed each year in the United States. Most of these operations take place for those persons who are over the age of fifty. That is usually because of the onset of osteoarthritis. This describes the wearing away of the cartilage that softens and wears away between the bones in the kneejoint. The result is that the bones begin rubbing against one another causing pain and stiffness. There is also the affects of rheumatoid arthritis in which a membrane in the kneejoint becomes thickened and inflamed creating too much synovial fluid that overfills the joint space. In any of these cases plus the possibility of having arthritis following a severe injury to the kneejoint can all lead to total knee replacement surgery.
Most people seek total knee replacement surgery after suffering severe knee pain that restricts mobility, exercise, getting in and out of chairs, climbing stairs and other similar movements that are all a part of normal everyday activity. Some people have knee deformities, causing the joint to bow out while other people have pain that doesn't respond to anti-inflammatory medicine. Because so many older people long to have an active life even into their seventies and eighties, this kind of surgery enables so many of them to get back to an active life again. The attending physician will ask that a number of tests be run on the patient before the operation is performed that include x-rays, an MRI and perhaps a CT scan as well as a physical exam of the knee in order to assess clearly what kind of surgery is exactly needed. The surgeon will of course talk about the risks of and the recovery from surgery.
Risks that sometimes occur with total knee replacement surgery are blood clots that break away and cause chest pain, shortness of breath and shock. In rare cases, the clots can even cause a heart attack, with risk of death. Other surgery risks can include urinary tract infection, chronic knee pain and stiffness, bleeding in the knee joint and nerve damage. In some severe cases, a second operation may be required to repair damage not addressed in the first operation. Also in rare cases, damage can be done to liver, heart, and kidney because of the anesthesia.
Once the total knee replacement surgery is finished, taking about ninety to one hundred and eighty minutes, the patient is taken the recovery room where monitoring of vital functions takes place. Once it is certain that the entire anesthetic has worn off and functions are normal, return to the hospital room will take place. Things such as surgical hose will have to be worn, a catheter will possibly be required, and a passive motion device will be employed that will keep the knee moving slowly for hours at a time. Patients may be attached to what is known as a Patient Controlled Analgesia machine. This machine allows that patient to control the amount of pain medication he or she receives. Of course, the patient cannot over medicate but within reason, the person having the total knee replacement surgery will be able to have pain relief.
In almost every case, a patient who has had total knee replacement surgery will have some discomfort with the knee that has had the prosthetic implanted. There will be the need to take pain medicine for a number of days following arrival at home. Patients should plan to have help at the house to assist in getting around for the first few weeks. The patient will probably have to use a cane, walker or crutches to assist in getting around for a number of weeks. Once mobility has increased to where those aids are not needed, activities such as golf, bike riding and swimming will be encouraged to once again be enjoyed. While many older Americans are enjoying activities once only thought to be the property of youngsters, such as baseball, basketball, soccer, jogging and hang gliding, these high impact activities must be eschewed by knee replacement patients. And because the prosthetic can wear out or be damaged, care will have to be continually given to avoid high impact activities.
During this operation, the surgeon cuts away damaged bone and cartilage. Total knee replacement surgery often involves the thighbone, shin and kneecap. It is replaced with a state of the art prosthesis that is made of metals alloys, plastics and polymers. In the first generation of joints, the differences between them and door hinges were slim, but 21st century joints are designed to actually mimic the naturals ability to roll and glide as it bends. Specific knees are designed with weight, age and activity level of the patients and the type of joint used also takes into account the overall health of the patient. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are they works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalm 139:14)
Over three hundred thousand kneejoint operations are performed each year in the United States. Most of these operations take place for those persons who are over the age of fifty. That is usually because of the onset of osteoarthritis. This describes the wearing away of the cartilage that softens and wears away between the bones in the kneejoint. The result is that the bones begin rubbing against one another causing pain and stiffness. There is also the affects of rheumatoid arthritis in which a membrane in the kneejoint becomes thickened and inflamed creating too much synovial fluid that overfills the joint space. In any of these cases plus the possibility of having arthritis following a severe injury to the kneejoint can all lead to total knee replacement surgery.
Most people seek total knee replacement surgery after suffering severe knee pain that restricts mobility, exercise, getting in and out of chairs, climbing stairs and other similar movements that are all a part of normal everyday activity. Some people have knee deformities, causing the joint to bow out while other people have pain that doesn't respond to anti-inflammatory medicine. Because so many older people long to have an active life even into their seventies and eighties, this kind of surgery enables so many of them to get back to an active life again. The attending physician will ask that a number of tests be run on the patient before the operation is performed that include x-rays, an MRI and perhaps a CT scan as well as a physical exam of the knee in order to assess clearly what kind of surgery is exactly needed. The surgeon will of course talk about the risks of and the recovery from surgery.
Risks that sometimes occur with total knee replacement surgery are blood clots that break away and cause chest pain, shortness of breath and shock. In rare cases, the clots can even cause a heart attack, with risk of death. Other surgery risks can include urinary tract infection, chronic knee pain and stiffness, bleeding in the knee joint and nerve damage. In some severe cases, a second operation may be required to repair damage not addressed in the first operation. Also in rare cases, damage can be done to liver, heart, and kidney because of the anesthesia.
Once the total knee replacement surgery is finished, taking about ninety to one hundred and eighty minutes, the patient is taken the recovery room where monitoring of vital functions takes place. Once it is certain that the entire anesthetic has worn off and functions are normal, return to the hospital room will take place. Things such as surgical hose will have to be worn, a catheter will possibly be required, and a passive motion device will be employed that will keep the knee moving slowly for hours at a time. Patients may be attached to what is known as a Patient Controlled Analgesia machine. This machine allows that patient to control the amount of pain medication he or she receives. Of course, the patient cannot over medicate but within reason, the person having the total knee replacement surgery will be able to have pain relief.
In almost every case, a patient who has had total knee replacement surgery will have some discomfort with the knee that has had the prosthetic implanted. There will be the need to take pain medicine for a number of days following arrival at home. Patients should plan to have help at the house to assist in getting around for the first few weeks. The patient will probably have to use a cane, walker or crutches to assist in getting around for a number of weeks. Once mobility has increased to where those aids are not needed, activities such as golf, bike riding and swimming will be encouraged to once again be enjoyed. While many older Americans are enjoying activities once only thought to be the property of youngsters, such as baseball, basketball, soccer, jogging and hang gliding, these high impact activities must be eschewed by knee replacement patients. And because the prosthetic can wear out or be damaged, care will have to be continually given to avoid high impact activities.
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