Total knee replacement surgery

Total knee replacement surgery

Introduction

Total Knee Replacement (TKR) is a surgical procedure used to replace the worn-out or diseased knee joint with an artificial knee joint. The surgery is indicated in conditions of excruciating knee pain in diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, trauma or any deformity to the knee joint. A TKR is considered to be the best treatment for arthritis when all other conservative treatments have failed to relieve the disabling knee pain.

Components used to replace the joint

Knee replacement surgery consists of three main parts, called components. The tibial component of knee joint is located in the upper part of the shin bone. The femoral component is placed at the end of the femur; between these metal implants is a plastic component, called a spacer.

Conditions that lead to have the surgery

The decision to hold a total knee replacement should make in conjunction with the participation of the patient, his family, attending physician and orthopedic surgeon. As a rule, the first stages of the attending physician refer the patient to consult an orthopedic surgeon, conducted a thorough examination and determine the risks and benefits of the forthcoming operation. Orthopedic surgeon may suggest the following alternative to total hip: unipolar knee replacement or minimally invasive (minimally invasive) hip replacement.

Typically, total knee replacement is carried out in the following cases:

Severe pain that limits daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs squats. The patient can hardly walk a few blocks without feeling severe pain in the knee joints. Movement over long distances requires the use of a cane or crutches.

Moderate or severe pain in the knee joints at rest, day or night.

Constant swelling of the knee, indicating the long-term inflammation, which is not easier on the background of recreation or medication.

The deformation of the knee: As the knee.

Stiffness and stiffness in the knee: the inability to fully straighten or bend the knee.

Pain persists in patients receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs, which include aspirin, ibuprofen, and others, often the most effective in the early stages of arthritis. Moreover, their effectiveness in all patients seen in different ways. In severe arthritis, anti-inflammatory drugs become less effective.

Intolerant or develop side effects from taking pain medication.

The ineffectiveness of other treatments such as cortisone injections, physical therapy and surgical treatment.

Despite the fact that the age of many patients at the time of knee arthroplasty is 60-80 years old, an orthopedic surgeon is coming to ...