What is a knee replacement?
Knee replacement, or knee arthroplasty, is a type of orthopedic surgery designed to relieve pain and restore function to a damaged or severely diseased knee joint. During this type of operation, your NASA Bone & Joint Specialists surgeon cuts away damaged bone from your thigh and shin and replaces it with an artificial prosthesis made of metal alloys or high-grade plastics.
The type of knee replacement surgery you’ll most benefit from depends on a variety of factors, including your age, activity level, weight, knee shape, and overall health. If you frequently experience knee pain and it doesn’t subside with conservative measures of care, you may benefit from a knee replacement.
Why would I need a knee replacement?
Knee replacement is usually recommended for men and women suffering from severe osteoarthritis. You might be a candidate for knee replacement surgery if you have trouble going up and down stairs, experience difficulty walking, or suffer from knee pain when you’re sitting or lying down.
What are the risks of knee replacement surgery?
Knee replacement surgery is safe and well-tolerated, but like any surgical procedure, there are inherent risks. These risks include:
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Nerve damage
- Heart attack
Another less common risk of knee replacement surgery is the failure of your artificial knee joint. Even the strongest metal and plastic prosthetics experience wear-and-tear as a result of daily activities. You’re more likely to experience joint failure if you’re overweight or you’re a physically active individual who participates in high impact sports.
What happens during knee replacement surgery?
Prior to knee replacement surgery, your NASA Bone & Joint Specialists surgeon administers general anesthesia, putting you to sleep. After the anesthesia sets in, your surgeon bends your knee in a position that exposes all surfaces of your knee joint. Next, your surgeon makes an incision and carefully removes all of the damaged parts of your joint.
Afterward, your surgeon prepares your joint surfaces and inserts the pieces of your artificial joint. Once placed, your surgeon tests the function of your joint and stitches it back up. Usually, this type of operation takes no more than two hours. Following your operation, your doctor might recommend orthobiologics such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy or stem cell injections to lower your risk of infection and to speed up the healing process.
Knee pain is a common problem that’s also possible to treat. If you’re suffering, request a knee replacement consultation at NASA Bone & Joint Specialists today, simply call or click the online booking tool.
