Oakland Area Orthopedic Surgeon Gives Knee Replacement Surgery Tips

I have been specializing in total and partial knee replacement surgery in the greater Oakland area for nearly thirty years. Also known as arthroplasty, a knee replacement procedure can result in the alleviation of pain in addition to the restoration of functionality in knee joints that have been damaged due to disease or injury. During this type of knee surgery, the injured cartilage and bone are extracted from the kneecap, shinbone, and thighbone. They are replaced with an artificial joint, or prosthesis, constructed of polymers, high-grade plastic and alloys.

Back in the 1950s, when arthroplasty was in its infancy, knee prosthetics were simply crude hinges. Nowadays, with in excess of 300,000 knee replacement surgeries being performed annually, there is a diverse array of artificial knee designs available to patients and physicians. The majority of these artificial knees have been designed to accurately mimic the knee’s natural ability to roll and glide throughout its entire range of movement.

Are You a Candidate for Total Knee Replacement Surgery? Total knee replacement surgery can prove to be effective in eliminating knee problems resulting from a variety of degenerative conditions. These include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis. The latter is a condition in which an obstruction of blood flow causes the bone tissue to die.

The following is a list of questions indicating that arthroplasty may be right for you:

1.       Does your knee pain cause a limitation in activities such as sitting down and getting up, going up and down stairs, or even just walking?

2.       Is there moderate to severe pain in your knees even while you’re at rest?

3.       Is the mobility and the flexibility of your knees impeded because of chronic swelling and stiffness?

4.       Are you unable to bend or straighten your knees?

5.       Have you tried other non-surgical methods for reducing the pain without improvement? These would include medications, physical therapy, weight loss, rest, or injection therapy.

6.       Does your knee show any signs of deformity such as bowing inwards or outwards?

It is worth noting that even though knee replacement surgery is typically performed on older adults, young people who exhibit a high level of physical activity may need arthroplasty if they prematurely wear out their knees.

Some Tips for Recovering from Knee Replacement Surgery An essential aspect of the rehabilitation process following knee replacement surgery is physical therapy. For the best possible outcome, it is necessary for the patient to lend their full cooperation. In many cases, physical therapy can be initiated as soon as 24 hours after the procedure. There will usually be a high degree of stiffness and discomfort when physical therapy begins. Often a CPM or a constant passive motion machine will be used to aid with mobility.

During the recovery period in the hospital, the patient should be prompted to move the ankle and foot to increase the blood flow to the leg muscles. This will help prevent blood clots and excessive swelling. Blood thinners may be administered to the patient. He or she might have to also wear a support hose or compression boots to further protect against swelling and clotting.

As soon as the next day after knee replacement surgery, the patient will be shown how to lightly exercise the new knee by a physical therapist. A continuous passive movement machine (a device that slowly moves the knee while the patient is still in bed) may also be employed to help the joint regain mobility.

By following all of the instructions given by the orthopedic surgeon regarding diet and exercise, the patient should have no problem recovering within the first few weeks after surgery.

In order to continue the recovery process after being discharged from the hospital, the patient should engage in the following physical activities:

1.       A graduate walking program first performed indoors and then outdoors. This will to increase the flexibility and stability of the knee in safe increments. Crutches or a walker may be needed initially.

2.       Basic household activities, such as traversing stairs and inclines, may be resumed gradually.

3.       A few times throughout each day the patient should repeat the knee strengthening exercises that were learned from the physical therapist.

4.       Common daily tasks such as non-strenuous house cleaning and shopping can typically resume about 3-6 weeks after the knee replacement surgery.

5.       Driving can be resumed in 4-6 weeks if the patient has regained sufficient flexibility in the knee to sit in a vehicle. Muscle strength should be recovered enough to press the accelerator and brakes adequately.

Most individuals will be able to participate in a variety of low-impact activities such as swimming, walking, biking, or playing golf once they have completely recovered from knee replacement surgery. Higher impact activities, such as tennis, skiing, jogging or sports that demand jumping or physical contact are usually not advisable. Be sure to contact my office for more specific information regarding the limitations of physical activity after recovering fully from knee replacement surgery.

Committed to getting you back in the game,

Dr. K