POSTOPERATIVE PAIN

Postoperative pain

Introduction1

Discussion2

Knee replacement types2

Partial Knee Replacement2

Total Knee Replacement2

Making the decision3

Expected complications3

Wound Infection3

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)4

Pulmonary Embolism4

Procedures to avoid subsequent Pulmonary Embolism and DVT4

Drug for blood thinning5

How to reduce clots risk?5

Postoperative pain management5

Management/Treatment5

Pre-Admission Assessment6

Joint Replacement School7

Personal Coach7

Orthopaedic Surgeon8

Anaesthetist8

General Anaesthetic9

Regional Anaesthetic9

Infiltration of Local Anaesthetic into Wound10

Occupational Therapist10

Physiotherapist10

Nurse11

Pharmacist11

Things to do before your surgery11

Common Types of Exercise12

The day of the Surgery14

Day One Post-Operation15

Day two post-operation16

Day three and four post-operation16

PCA Weaning Off17

Postoperative advice17

Conclusion18

Postoperative pain

Introduction

Osteoarthritis is the disease affects the joints of the body. This disease mostly target hips and knees. The surfaces of joint that are covered with smooth or even cartilage goes gradually thin, damaged and roughen (Abdalrahim,S.M., 2009, p.13). These surfaces produce a lot of pain in the joints where disease has occurred. In the end, in some of the areas of joints there may not be any cartilage left. There are many diseases that can produce pain in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is another disease due to which pain occurs in the joint (Maelor,W., n.d., Pp.3-34).

In the operation of knee replacement, a part or the whole knee is to be replaced. The knee consists on shine bone and thigh bone, ligaments hold it in a place, and knee cap covers it. Due to the particular cartilage coverage, the bone ends are able glide evenly and smoothly on each other (Maelor,W., n.d., Pp.3-34). Due to the damaging of cartilage by injury, painfully the bones start rubbing together. This phenomenon makes the movement of knee difficult. At the time of operation or surgery, the doctor will remove the damaged part of the knee and replace it with new parts that are made up of plastic and metal (Maelor,W., n.d., Pp.3-34).

When Mr. N came in my clinic with holding stick, I observed that he has a very severe pain in his leg that he is not able to walk.

Discussion

Knee replacement types

Partial Knee Replacement

In the replacement of partial knee replacement, the cartilage and a small fragment of bone in one section of the joint is removed. In the surgery, resurfacing is also done with the orthopaedic implants (Maelor,W., n.d., Pp.3-34).

Total Knee Replacement

In order to replace the damaged or injured chunk of the knee, total knee operation takes place. In this operation, replacement of damaged part of the knee is done with artificial parts. On the edge of the thigh bone, metal shell is implanted whereas implantation of plastic and metal space is done on shine bone's upper edge. Plastic button is also implanted on the knee cap if required (Maelor,W., n.d., Pp.3-34).

Making the decision

If the patient is elder or is having other treatments and medications in that case the patient should get a proper assessment before the operation by some specialist doctor (Maelor,W., n.d., Pp.3-34).

In certain medical conditions, knee replacement surgery does not appear to be suitable. These medical conditions can be excessive obesity, uncontrolled diabetes, acute neurological conditions, advanced and serious respiratory failure, acute heart related problems and a lively infection in the disturbed joint ...