Considering Knee Replacement Surgery?
Ranked #22,913 in Healthy Living, #331,423 overall
All About Knee Replacement Surgery
Knee replacement surgery - also known as knee arthroplasty (ARTH-ro-plas-tee) - can help relieve pain and restore function in severely diseased knee joints. During knee replacement, a surgeon cuts away damaged bone and cartilage from your thighbone, shinbone and kneecap and replaces it with an artificial joint made of metal alloys, high-grade plastics and polymers.
There are two main types of surgery, depending on the condition of the knee: total knee replacement and partial (half) knee replacement.
What Happens During Knee Joint Replacement Surgery?
Once you are under general anesthesia (meaning you are temporarily put to sleep), spinal, or epidural (numb below the waist) anesthesia, an eight- to twelve-inch cut is made in the front of the knee. The damaged part of the joint is removed from the surface of the bones, and the surfaces are then shaped to hold a metal or plastic artificial joint. The artificial joint is attached to the thigh bone, shin and knee cap either with cement or a special material. When fit together, the attached artificial parts form the joint, relying on the surrounding muscles and ligaments for support and function.
What Are Recent Advances in Knee Joint Replacement Surgery?
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has revolutionized knee replacement surgery as well as many fields of medicine. Its key characteristic is that it uses specialized techniques and instrumentation to enable the surgeon to perform major surgery without a large incision.
MIS knee joint replacement requires a much smaller incision, three to five inches, versus the standard approach and incision, which is typically eight to twelve inches. The smaller, less invasive approaches result in less tissue trauma by allowing the surgeon to work between the fibers of the quadriceps muscles instead of requiring an incision through the tendon. It may lead to less pain, decreased recovery time and better motion due to less scar tissue formation.
Currently this less invasive procedure is performed by only a small percentage of orthopedic surgeons in North America. Because this type of surgery is still relatively new, research has been initiated to determine how the immediate and long-term results will compare to traditional surgery.
What Happens After the Surgery?
The average hospital stay after knee joint replacement is usually three to five days. The vast majority of people who undergo knee joint replacement surgery have dramatic improvement. This improvement is most notable one month or more after surgery. The pain caused by the damaged joint is relieved when the new gliding surface is constructed during surgery.
After knee joint replacement, people are standing and moving the joint the day after surgery. At first, you may walk with the help of parallel bars, and then a walking device -- such as crutches, walker, or cane -- will be used until your knee is able to support your full body weight. After about 6 weeks, most people are walking comfortably with minimal assistance. Once muscle strength is restored with physical therapy, people who have had knee joint replacement surgery can enjoy most activities (except running and jumping).
Knee Replacement Cost.
The cost of a total knee replacement varies depending upon where it is performed. The average cost - total knee replacement in the United States is about $40,000. The average cost of total knee replacement in our SimpleCare network varies from $12,000 to $ 14,000.
Additional costs:
Some preparations to your living space will be necessary for optimal recovery. These include safety bars in the shower or bath, a stable
shower bench, a toilet seat riser with arms and, if necessary, creating a temporary first-floor living area to avoid stairs. Implants usually need to be replaced in 10 to 15 years.
For American patients without health insurance and Canadians unwilling to wait, it is worth considering medical tourism, - leaving the country for knee replacement surgery. SimpleCare World Health offers knee replacement procedures for costs dramatically lower than those in the United States. The cost of total knee replacement surgery will also vary from patient to patient, depending on factors such as age and medical history.
Learn more
If you're ready to get started, please contact us at info@simplecarehealthplan.com. If you would like to learn more on how it works, continue on to http://www.simplecareworldhealth.com.
There are two main types of surgery, depending on the condition of the knee: total knee replacement and partial (half) knee replacement.
What Happens During Knee Joint Replacement Surgery?
Once you are under general anesthesia (meaning you are temporarily put to sleep), spinal, or epidural (numb below the waist) anesthesia, an eight- to twelve-inch cut is made in the front of the knee. The damaged part of the joint is removed from the surface of the bones, and the surfaces are then shaped to hold a metal or plastic artificial joint. The artificial joint is attached to the thigh bone, shin and knee cap either with cement or a special material. When fit together, the attached artificial parts form the joint, relying on the surrounding muscles and ligaments for support and function.
What Are Recent Advances in Knee Joint Replacement Surgery?
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has revolutionized knee replacement surgery as well as many fields of medicine. Its key characteristic is that it uses specialized techniques and instrumentation to enable the surgeon to perform major surgery without a large incision.
MIS knee joint replacement requires a much smaller incision, three to five inches, versus the standard approach and incision, which is typically eight to twelve inches. The smaller, less invasive approaches result in less tissue trauma by allowing the surgeon to work between the fibers of the quadriceps muscles instead of requiring an incision through the tendon. It may lead to less pain, decreased recovery time and better motion due to less scar tissue formation.
Currently this less invasive procedure is performed by only a small percentage of orthopedic surgeons in North America. Because this type of surgery is still relatively new, research has been initiated to determine how the immediate and long-term results will compare to traditional surgery.
What Happens After the Surgery?
The average hospital stay after knee joint replacement is usually three to five days. The vast majority of people who undergo knee joint replacement surgery have dramatic improvement. This improvement is most notable one month or more after surgery. The pain caused by the damaged joint is relieved when the new gliding surface is constructed during surgery.
After knee joint replacement, people are standing and moving the joint the day after surgery. At first, you may walk with the help of parallel bars, and then a walking device -- such as crutches, walker, or cane -- will be used until your knee is able to support your full body weight. After about 6 weeks, most people are walking comfortably with minimal assistance. Once muscle strength is restored with physical therapy, people who have had knee joint replacement surgery can enjoy most activities (except running and jumping).
Knee Replacement Cost.
The cost of a total knee replacement varies depending upon where it is performed. The average cost - total knee replacement in the United States is about $40,000. The average cost of total knee replacement in our SimpleCare network varies from $12,000 to $ 14,000.
Additional costs:
Some preparations to your living space will be necessary for optimal recovery. These include safety bars in the shower or bath, a stable
shower bench, a toilet seat riser with arms and, if necessary, creating a temporary first-floor living area to avoid stairs. Implants usually need to be replaced in 10 to 15 years.
For American patients without health insurance and Canadians unwilling to wait, it is worth considering medical tourism, - leaving the country for knee replacement surgery. SimpleCare World Health offers knee replacement procedures for costs dramatically lower than those in the United States. The cost of total knee replacement surgery will also vary from patient to patient, depending on factors such as age and medical history.
Learn more
If you're ready to get started, please contact us at info@simplecarehealthplan.com. If you would like to learn more on how it works, continue on to http://www.simplecareworldhealth.com.
Knee Replacement Rehab & Recovery
Discharge/Rehabilitation:Patients are usually discharged 3 to 5 days after knee replacement surgery. It is important that discharged patients be able to safely get in their homes and perform regular activities, such as getting to the bathroom and preparing food.
If patients are not progressing to the point that they can safely return to their home environment, in-patient rehabilitation may be recommended. This allows for further work with the therapists and 24-hour support services.
Patients who return home will have home services arranged as necessary. This may include a visiting therapist and/or nurse.
Walking:
Most patients take their first steps after surgery with the aid of a walker. Patients with good balance and a strong upper body may opt to use crutches. Transitioning to a cane depends on two factors. First, restrictions from your surgeon -- not all surgeons allow full weight to be placed on the leg in the early weeks after surgery. Second, your ability to regain strength.
Usual time to return: 2 to 4 weeks with a cane; 4 to 6 weeks unassisted
Stairs:
Many patients have to navigate stairs in order to enter or get through their homes. Therefore, your therapist will work with you to get up and down steps using crutches or a walker.
Usual time to return: 1 week with crutch/walker; 4 to 6 weeks unassisted
Driving:
Return to driving depends on a number of factors, including the side of your operation and the type of vehicle you have (standard or automatic). Patients need to be able to safely and quickly operate the gas and brake pedals. Under no circumstances should patients drive when taking narcotic pain medications.
Usual time to return: 4 to 6 weeks
Work:
Return to work depends on the activity that you have to do at your job. Patients who work in a seated position, with limited walking, can plan on returning about 4-6 weeks from the time of surgery.
Patients who are more active at work may need more time until they can return to full duties. Laborers should consider their work obligations before undergoing knee replacement. For example, patients may not be able to return to activities such as heavy lifting after knee replacement.
Usual time to return: 4 to 10 weeks, depending on work obligations
Simplecare World Medical Headquarters
Avda. Ricardo Soriano, 72;
Edf. Golden, Portal B, 1a Planta;
Marbella Malaga 29602
34-952-768-315
1 (800) 281-3136 Spain
www.simplecareworldhealth.com
Great Stuff on Amazon
New Guestbook
-
-
hiprecalllaw
Jan 13, 2012 @ 8:54 am | delete
- This procedure reminds me of hip replacement surgeries since they are very similar. A closer scrutiny should be taken about knee replacement. We wouldn't want a replay of the DePuy controversy and the DePuy Lawsuit among patients. Such incident proved to be traumatic to those who suffered from metallosis.
-
-
-
joandavidson
Aug 5, 2011 @ 1:52 pm | delete
- Before one considers a knee replacement surgery, enough information should be read about the procedure and the materials used in the procedure because like those people who have filed for a DePuy Pinnacle Lawsuit, you do not want anything defective used on your surgery.
-
-
-
asrhiprecall
Aug 4, 2011 @ 10:34 am | delete
- This is a very informative article. Having to describe knee replacement surgery in simpler terms is a good thing. I wonder if there are articles like this that talks about hip replacement. There are a number of people who underwent the surgery and a number more who are about to undergo the surgery. There were also patients who have reported cases about defective hip replacement. This leads to recall of hip replacements, like DePuy Hip Recall. I have found a link that may be of help to those patients.Check out the DePuy Hip Recall site.
-
-
-
Apr 14, 2011 @ 10:17 am | delete
- Zimmer knee recall lawyers can help you out. They are the ones who will make sure that your rights are always protected. Seek their valuable help right away.
Visit:zimmer knee lawsuit
-
-
-
artyfax Jan 11, 2011 @ 4:51 am | delete
- I have just had a total knee replacement, and after 4 weeks am still having trouble bending the new joint. I keep getting told that it will be a long slow process to get back to normal. Although, I have a sedentary job, there seems to be little chance of getting back to work without several weeks of physio. The medical team cannot offer any reason why I have had this issue, since when I left hospital I could bend the knee thru 90 deg, rather than the current 66-70deg.
-
-
-
JaredB
Dec 21, 2010 @ 8:23 pm | delete
- I have been a Surgical Tech since 2002 and knee replacement is definitely on the list for most aggressive operations. Good description of the procedure!
-
-
-
thehiplady
Dec 4, 2010 @ 4:42 am | delete
- interesting article. I know a bit about hip replacements having had one done last year but now have to have my kneed done as well. I'm told the recovery is harder so I was relieved to read that i might be back at work in less than a month,
-
by SIMPLECARE
SIMPLE CARE offers world-class private surgical and recuperative care to international medical travelers seeking high quality affordable treatment in... more »
- 4 featured lenses
- Winner of 5 trophies!
- Top lens » Facial Feminization Surgery
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
