Knee replacement, also called knee arthroplasty, is a medical procedure to replace the over-loaded weight-bearing parts of your knee joint to alleviate disability and pain. It's most often performed for osteoarthritic knee conditions, and for other knee disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and gout. During this kind of surgery, a part of your knee called the meniscus or the kneecap, will be removed to give you better knee movement. You'll end up with a smaller sized and stiffened knee that often get swollen and irritated after the procedure.
The most common reason that knee replacement in Brisbane is done is to correct deformities. Diameters in your joint can cause pain and sometimes make walking a painful experience. Another reason why people go through with the procedure is to restore full knee motion after an accident. It may be necessary for a patient to have more than one replaced joint in order to fully heal and be able to move around again.
Patients are encouraged to follow all appointments, which include postoperative care. When it comes time for them to go home, they are told that they can go home by themselves on the first day of their hospital stay, but that they will need to stay in the hospital for at least three days before they're released to home. Patients need to take plenty of rest, and they may be given medication that helps with their aching knees. They can expect to be told to avoid heavy activities, such as running, until at least two to four weeks after total knee replacement surgery. This means going on a restricted diet of cooked food, since they won't be able to do any physical activity yet.
During the first few days following knee replacement surgery, patients should still expect some degree of discomfort from the procedure. They can expect this discomfort to diminish over the course of two to four weeks. They may experience some stiffness and soreness as well, but this usually goes away after a couple days. The most common symptoms include stiffness, swelling, inflammation, a lump that doesn't go away, tenderness, and bruising. While these are fairly common after knee replacement surgeries, some patients may have more issues with their mobility, and it's important to discuss these with the doctor.
After a patient has experienced their first episode of knee pain following partial knee replacement surgery, they will likely undergo a series of treatments to help with their knee pain. Physical therapy is one option, as is massage therapy and various stretching exercises. The goal of physical therapy is to learn how best to use the body that has been restored. Knee pain can be caused by any number of underlying conditions, and treating them all can make the healing process longer and more complicated.
Another option for knee replacement surgery is an arthroplasty. This is an incision into the bottom of the knee that allows the surgeon to insert a pin into the joint so that it can be stabilized. This pin is then tightened, and if it needs to be removed, another arthroplasty may be performed. This treatment option allows for the full mobility of the joint, but it also adds a lot of length to the legs.
During the final part of the total knee replacement surgery process, patients are expected to return to the doctor's office to get fitted for orthotics and to get a cast or splint. These items will be used to help with the patient's re-emergence in the community. They will also be used to limit any permanent movement of the leg. The cast will stay on for a certain amount of time, usually one week, before being removed. The splint will go back on after a week and will be removed after three to four weeks. The cast and splint will both need to be worn for at least six months to assist with the patient's knee replacement recovery time.
Infection is always a risk with any type of surgery, but infection is even greater with a knee replacement surgery. Since the artificial joint is connected to the heart, the patient will most likely be put under general anesthesia. Because this is the case, there is only a small window of opportunity to get the infection out before the procedure is performed properly. Anesthesia wears off after a few hours, and the procedure must be repeated the next morning. Since it takes so long to complete the surgery, the patient will be stuck on the hospital floor, with no other means of transportation and little to do.
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