What Options Do You Have Regarding Your Knee Replacement Surgery?

What Options Do You Have Regarding Your Knee Replacement Surgery?

When you have severe pain in the knee or have injured your knee that has resulted in discomfort and immobility, and no medications, injections, therapies, or exercises are helping, you have no option, but to undergo a knee replacement surgery. When such a case arises, your surgeon may ask you to undertake either a partial or total knee replacement in Bangalore, depending upon your condition and severity of your knee issue. Take a look at both these types of knee replacement surgery options.

Total Knee Replacement

This is the most popularly undertaken surgery and is the traditional method of repairing a damaged knee. Having begun in 1968, and having advanced and improved in terms of procedures, more than 90% of patients undergo a total knee replacement surgery today. In fact, the procedure has led to nearly duplicate the way a natural human knee moves, while being the safest and most effective.

In such a surgery, the surface of the bones that have been damaged are removed, which is then replaced with an artificial metal or plastic implant. The damaged bone is cut with the help of special surgical instruments, and the healthy bone underneath is shaped so that the implant can be fit exactly in place. This entire procedure involves three stages, as mentioned below.

• Removal of the damaged cartilage at the ends of the thighbone and shinbone, and a small portion of the underlying bone.
• Positioning and fitting of the metal implants by press-fitting or cementation. Cementation is when the implant is fixed in place permanently with the help of cement, while press-fitting is when the implant encourages the natural bone to grow into it, thus securing the implant organically.
• Insertion of a plastic button underneath the kneecap, and implantation of a medical grade plastic spacer between the tibial and femoral metal components to create a smooth gliding surface that duplicates the motion of a natural knee.

The total knee replacement surgery further has two variations, wherein the posterior cruciate ligament at the back of the knee that provides support when the knee bends is either removed or preserved. Your surgeon can let you know which situation will be better for your case. 90% of total knee replacement patients have experienced a dramatic reduction in knee pain and have benefited from improved mobility and movement. However, strenuous activities like running and jumping should be avoided. Generally, total knee replacement implants continue to work well for more than 10 years.

Partial Knee Replacement

Unlike the total knee replacement where the entire knee is removed and replaced, the partial knee replacement surgery involves removal of only a part of the knee that is infected. This is done to preserve as much original healthy bone and soft tissue as possible.

In this surgery, the damaged portion of the knee, including the bone and cartilage, is removed and replaced with metal and plastic components. This surgery involves a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery, along with lesser pain and blood loss. However, only 10% of patients undergo this kind of surgery because this surgical treatment doesn’t guarantee elimination of the disease forever, as the preserved bone may still be susceptible to the ailment. Surgeons prefer performing this surgery on younger patients who have plenty of healthy bone remaining. It is the most preferred option for those who have an active lifestyle, or for the elderly who live relatively inactive lifestyle.

Options of incisions

The traditional surgery involves the surgeon making an 8 to 12 inch incision along the front and towards the middle, or along the front and to the side of the knee. This surgery requires 3 to 5 days stay in the hospital, and 12 weeks of recovery time. Another novel technique is the minimally invasive surgery that requires only 3 to 4 inches of incision to be made, which results in lesser trauma, lesser blood loss, and lesser pain; therefore, faster recovery with 3 to 4 days of hospital stay and 6 weeks of recovery. The third approach used is the lateral approach, which is very rarely used. This is common for patients whose knees are bent outwards. Which out of the three techniques should be applied to your condition can only be decided upon by the surgeon who evaluates every aspect and selects the best approach for the patient. So, consult your surgeon and discuss your options.