Skeptical About Knee Replacement Surgery? Know Why You Must Go For Total Knee Replacement

What is knee replacement surgery?

Knee replacement surgery, which is also called arthroplasty, or total knee replacement, is a process that involves the replacement of the damaged part of the knees due to arthritis or a certain type of injury. Non-infectious metals caps or plastic caps are used to cap the ends of the bones that form the knee joint, along with the kneecap. This surgery is advised for someone who suffers from severe arthritis or severe knee injury. 

You can consult Dr. (prof) Amit Kumar Agrawal, the best orthopedic surgeon in Delhi, regarding the pain and stiffness in your knee. He will give his expert advice on what can be done to ease the pain and he will suggest an alternative treatment.  

Types of arthritis usually observed that require a knee replacement surgery-

• Osteoarthritis - This is a degenerative disease that affects mostly middle-aged people and older adults. It may cause the breakdown of the joint cartilage and adjacent bone in the knee. 

• Rheumatoid arthritis - This causes inflammation in the synovial membrane and results in excessive synovial fluid, which can result in pain and stiffness in the knee. 

• Traumatic arthritis - this is due to an injury. It may cause damage to the cartilage of the knee. 

Reasons why a knee replacement surgery is recommended - 

Knee replacement aims to treat excessive pain and disability in the knee. The most common conditions that might result in the need for knee replacement surgery are the above-mentioned conditions. 

1. Due to the severe case of osteoarthritis - this is an age-related ‘wear and tear’ type of arthritis. It is usually observed in the case of people aged 50 or above, but in some rare cases, this might occur in younger people as well. It is characterized by the breakdown of the joint cartilage. Damage to the cartilage and bones limits movements and may cause severe pain. The knee may swell or ‘give away’ because the joint is not stable. In that case, your surgeon may advise you to get knee replacement surgery which might help ease pain and might enhance the overall functionality of the joint. 

2. The other forms of arthritis that are mentioned above such as rheumatoid arthritis or traumatic arthritis, may also lead to the degeneration of the knee joint. If you continue to move your knee joint even in a severe condition, then that might lead to even more tearing in the bone and the cartilage. If the medical treatments are not satisfactory then getting a knee replacement surgery might help. 

What you should expect after getting the procedure done-

1. Once the surgery is done you will be kept under observation. You can observe an in-hospital stay for several days after the knee replacement surgery. Your blood pressure and pulse will be periodically monitored.

2. After your incisions start to heal, you can expect a visit from a physiotherapist soon as it is important to move your new joint and check its functionality. This might help in indicating any post-surgical complications if there are any. 

3. A ‘continuous passive motion (CPM)’ machine may be used to begin the physical therapy. This machine moves your knee joint according to the range of the motion. Your pain will be controlled through medication. 

If you are a potential candidate for a knee replacement surgery, and you are not sure whom to trust with the procedure, then Dr. (prof) Amit Kumar Agrawal is your one-stop solution. He is the best orthopedic surgeon, located in Delhi. Dr. (Prof) Amit Kumar Agrawal allows your joints to be restored in a reasonable, controlled, and medically administered process.