Total knee replacement is a treatment option when an arthritic knee has left you in severe pain and disabled. The operation involves removing damaged portions of your bones and replacing them with an artificial joint. While you may experience pain while recovering from total knee replacement, your leg will feel significantly better than it did before surgery.
Definition
Total knee replacement is a procedure in which damaged portions of your femur (thighbone) and tibia (shinbone), as well as your knee cartilage, are removed and replaced with a metal or plastic implant. Total knee replacement removes both sides of the knee joint, as compared with partial knee replacement, which removes only a portion of the knee and leaves the healthy part of the knee untouched.
Why It's Done
Total knee replacement is usually done on patients who suffer from arthritis. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis cause what is normally a smooth surface between the bones of your knee to become inflamed. This eventually results in pain and disability. Because arthritis usually takes years to become this severe, most patients undergoing a knee replacement are older adults. Total knee replacement is an aggressive treatment option and usually only done when all other treatments prove to be ineffective.
The Procedure
You will be put under anesthesia for the operation. Once sedated, your surgeon will begin by making an 8- to 10-inch incision in your knee. The cartilage in your knee will then be removed and your kneecap is resurfaced. Your thighbone and shinbone will be cut and an artificial joint will be inserted. The incision is then closed and a drain is left in to allow extra fluid to be removed. The whole surgery should last about 2 hours.
Pain
You may experience pain in your knee after the operation. Your doctor can prescribe pain medication to help alleviate your symptoms. There are rare cases where patients experience persistent pain afterwards. However, total knee replacement is usually an effective treatment option. Most often, the pain will gradually subside as you heal, and your knee will feel significantly better than before the procedure.
Recovery
You will remain in the hospital for a few days following the operation. During this time you will be encouraged to move your ankle and foot, as well as move your knee with the help of a continuous passive motion machine. This is designed to decrease swelling, improve circulation and restore function. You should be able to resume normal daily activities within 3 to 6 weeks following total knee replacement.
