Knee Replacement Surgery for severe pain and disability

Knee Replacement Surgery is treatment of choice for end stage arthritis whether it is due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or post-injury.

Do you require a Knee Replacement Surgery?

If you are severely disabled or in constant pain and your sleep is disturbed, taking the decision would be quite easy for you, even if you have to take certain amount of risk as the potential benefits are worth the risk.

The fact is that your knee arthritis will never get better and it gradually worsens as time passes. The rate of deterioration varies from person to person and you may become severely disabled within few months.

On the other hand, if you are comfortable with conservative treatment and you are able to walk long distances without support, you may not require a knee replacement.

Why should you not wait too long for a Knee Replacement?

If you do not respond to medical therapy and continue to have severe pain and disability, you may as well get the operation done sooner so that you can enjoy the pain-free life sooner. It is worth noting here that more than 96% patients undergoing knee replacements have no major complications.

If your arthritis has reduced your walking, the sedentary lifestyle will soften your bone and your muscles will become weak. After the operation, you will need a longer time to rehabilitate.

The more you wait, the more your knees will become deformed which means that to straighten your knees, your surgeon has to do more soft tissue release that may increase your post-operative pain.

What are the benefits of Total Knee Replacement?

1. Total Knee Replacement can relieve pain that does not respond to other treatment options like non-surgical or partial surgery.
2. Pain reduction in 90 to 95% of the patients
3. Reduced stiffness and improved joint movement
4. Increased walking ability
5. Improved alignment of deformed joints

Common post-operative Total Knee Replacemnt course

Day 1 Standing, bending and sitting out in a chair, may take a few steps with help

Day 2 Walking (with aids)

Day 4/5 Stair climbing

Day 5-7 Home (with 2 walking sticks)

Week 6 Walking unaided (or with one stick), Driving

Week 10-12 Full recovery

Clinical Outcomes of Total Knee Replacement

At 1 year post-operative, range of movement is 0-120 deg
There is 95-100% survival rate after 10 years
85-95% survival rate after 15 years
80-85% survival rate after 20 years

What are the recent advances in Knee Replacement Surgery?

1. Objective refinements in surgical techniques e.g. Computer Assisted Surgery or Navigation System
2. Improvement in implant design such as High Flex Knees
3. Post operative pain control – Epidural Analgesia

For Knee Replacement Surgery contact Hip Knee Surgeon