Total Knee Replacement

Total knee replacement surgery is advised for those patients who have been suffering from severely damaged arthritis of the knee. A patient of knee arthritis finds it difficult to walk; climb stairs and other perform other simple activities. Patients of knee arthritis also gradually start feeling pain while sitting. When all other basic treatments have failed to provide favorable results, a total knee replacement surgery is considered the last option to relieve the patient from the pain.

The first total knee replacement surgery was performed in the year 1968 and this was considered to be one of the most significant achievements in the field of orthopedic surgery. New techniques and use of new advanced materials have improved the rate of success of total knee replacement surgeries. A total knee replacement surgery lasts for more than fifteen long years.

Knee anatomy

Human knee consists of the lower thighbone which is called femur, the shin bone which is called tibia and the kneecap which is called patella. These three bones touch each other forming the knee joint which is covered with an articular cartilage. All these parts of the knee joint function properly unless some disease such as knee arthritis damages some parts of the bone, disrupting the smooth functioning of the knee joint.

Causes of knee pain

There may be several physical causes of a knee pain but osteoarthritis, traumatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are considered to be the most common causes of knee pain. Osteoarthritis damages the knee of people over fifty years of age, however traumatic arthritis occurs after a knee injury or a knee fracture.

Total knee replacement surgery

A total knee replacement surgery takes around two hours of surgical treatment. The damaged bone and the cartilage are replaced with a new plastic and metal joint surface during the surgery. The replaced material consists of three components. A strong metal forms the femoral component, a plastic placed in a metal tray forms the tibia component and another plastic component forms the artificial patella.

Complications after total knee replacement surgery

Total knee replacement surgery is the treatment which produces fewer numbers of complications. Complications occur in less than two percent of patients; however the recovery period after the surgery has to be comprehensive.

Swelling and blood clotting in the leg veins are some of the common complications after a total knee replacement surgery. These complications are easily dealt with by surgeons with the help of modern techniques and exercises.

Recovery period after the surgery

Recovery period after the total knee replacement surgery is considered to be extremely important for the success of the implant. A comprehensive rehabilitation program is planned by the surgeon and the physical therapist so as to recover from the surgery. Lighter exercises are advised in the initial stages which replace some complex exercises to increase the muscle strength in the later stages.

Diet

Most of the patients complain a loss of appetite several weeks after the surgery. The dietician and surgeons plan a well balanced diet rich in iron for the patient. An iron rich diet helps fast healing of tissues and regain muscle strength.