- The significance of knee-replacement surgery cannot be overstated. Degenerative arthritis can affect the young as well as the old, and it has crippled thousands of people around the world. Once the cartilage has worn away at the ends of the bones and the back of the kneecap, it cannot be restored. Until knee-replacement surgery was created, patients were out of luck. With innovations in minimally invasive surgery and the improvement of the in-body prosthetics, patients who undergo knee-replacement surgery often recover so well that they can do physical activities denied them for years.
- There are several types of knee-replacement surgeries. The most common is total knee replacement. This involves the largest incision and is the most invasive, but it often has the least complications. The entire knee, along with the lower part of the upper leg bone and the upper part of the lower leg bone, is removed and replaced with a prosthetic. Minimally invasive knee replacement uses the same procedure but attempts to do so with a smaller incision. Partial-knee-replacement surgery replaces one side or one piece of the joint, but not the entire joint.
- The are many benefits of knee-replacement surgery. Once the patient has recovered from the operation and has gone through the necessary physical therapy to regain range of motion and strength, he can often return to a quality of life he hasn't had for years---walking without pain, climbing stairs, kneeling, and playing with children and grandchildren.
- Before considering knee-replacement surgery, ask your orthopedic surgeon about all of its risks and benefits. If your condition has become so advanced that pain is a constant companion, it may well be time to explore this as a solution. It is important to consider a recovery plan---for example, if you have a place to safely and comfortably recover---and if you will need help during the recovery.
- Remember that although knee-replacement surgery has improved the lives of thousands, it is still a major operation that has many inherent risks, including the possibility of death. It should also be noted that it is not a magic wand that will solve all of the patient's problems. Weight loss, physical therapy and lifestyle changes will be required of the patient in order to maintain the life of the replaced joint.
