If osteoarthritis or a sports injury have sidelined you and your daily activities, you may be thinking about a total knee replacement. This orthopedic surgery restores normal strength and range of motion, as well as relieving pain. However, is it the right choice for you? Here are some questions and answers about this popular surgery with a total knee replacement specialist.
How Many People Get Total Knee Replacements?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 719,000 people get total knee replacements annually. More women than men undergo the procedure.
What Does Total Knee Replacement Surgery Involve?
Total knee arthroplasty–the medical term for total knee replacement–involves putting prosthetics on the ends of the leg bones in the knee. It also removes worn cartilage in the knee.
Before your orthopedic surgeon decides on surgery as your best choice, you will have a complete physical examination. They will discuss your medical history and what you want to happen as a result of your treatment plan. You will have bloodwork and imaging tests, such as X-rays and an MRI, too.
If you do need surgery, the operation takes one to two hours. You will have general anesthesia to put you to sleep and keep you comfortable during the operation. Epidural anesthesia or other kinds of anesthesia are options, too.
Afterwards, you wake up in recovery. Your knee will be bandaged. You will begin physical therapy quickly–even the same day and during your brief hospital stay. As you recover, you will continue with outpatient therapy in a clinic setting and at home.
Your orthopedic total knee replacement specialist will give you complete instructions on:
- Pain management
- Caring for your incision
- What to eat and drink
- Exercises to do at home
- Follow-up office appointments and physical therapy
- What activities you can and cannot do
Most patients return to driving, work and other activities within six weeks or so. Your recovery timeline depends on many things, including your age, your job and more.
Do I Need a Partial or Total Knee Replacement?
Whether you need a partial or total knee replacement depends on your unique physical condition and needs. A partial knee replacement helps patients who have damage in only one part of their knee joint. A total knee replacement is recommended for those with widespread damage throughout the joint.
How Long Will My New Knee Last?
Most knee replacements last for years–10 to 15 or even more. To help preserve an artificial knee, patients should do low-impact aerobic exercise like biking, swimming and cycling.
How Can I Prepare My Body for Surgery?
This is a very good question. Your orthopedic surgeon may prescribe pre-operative therapy to prepare for the procedure. The goals are improving overall endurance and muscular strength in the legs.
Also, some patients benefit from losing some weight. Quitting smoking will improve healing and overall health after surgery.
What Are the Risks Involved in Total Knee Replacement?
Any complex surgery carries some risks. For total knee arthroplasty, those risks include:
- Infection
- Loosening of the new joint components
- Nerve and blood vessel damage
- Scar tissue
- Limited range of motion in the operated knee
- Ongoing pain
However, serious complications are rare. Regarding pain, most total knee replacement patients experience a comfort level in their knee which they have not had in years.
At Bowen Hefley Orthopedics, we do pre-operative assessments and treatment planning. We make sure we understand your current health status and potential for excellent results. We also tailor recovery programs for each patient. We provide continuous support and follow-up care so you have the best possible results.
What is the General Success Rate of Knee Replacement Surgeries?
The success rate is high. In fact, more than 90 percent of patients have great function and comfort after 10 to 15 years with their new knees.
Your Total Knee Replacement Team in Little Rock, Arkansas
At Bowen Hefley Orthopedics, Dr. William Hefley and his team perform scores of total knee replacement surgeries each year. Dr. Hefley is known for his kind manner, expertise and devotion to professional development. You can count on him every step of the way as you prepare and recover from total knee replacement surgery.
To learn more about total knee arthroplasty, call us for an appointment at (800) 336-2412, or request your visit here. We welcome questions of all kinds and will be happy to answer them when we see you soon.
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