Knee Replacement
About the Procedure | Why is it Performed? | Before the procedure | After the procedure (Recovery) | Risks | Outlook (Prognosis) | FAQ’s
About the Procedure
In knee replacement surgery (arthroplasty), a damaged, worn or diseased knee is replaced with an artificial joint. Knee replacement is a routine operation for knee pain when the knee joint has been severely damaged, most commonly by arthritis. There are two main types of surgery, depending on the condition of the knee: total knee replacement and partial (half) knee replacement. Candidates for knee replacement surgery need to be well enough for both a major operation and the rehabilitation afterwards.
Why is it Performed?
Knee replacement surgery (arthroplasty) is usually necessary when a health condition or injury disrupts the normal working of the knee joint so that:
- your mobility is severely reduced
- you experience pain even while resting
Before the procedure
A couple of weeks before the operation, you will usually be asked to attend a preoperative assessment clinic to meet your surgeon and other members of the surgical team. They will take a medical history, examine you and organise any tests (such as blood and urine tests), ECG and X-rays needed to make sure you are healthy enough for an anaesthetic and surgery. They will also give you advice on how to prepare for surgery and will ask you about your home circumstances so your discharge from hospital can be planned. If you live alone, have a carer or feel you need extra support, tell the surgical team so that any help or support can be arranged before you go into hospital. Take a list or packets of any medication you are taking. Some rheumatoid arthritis medications suppress the immune system, which can affect healing. For this reason, you may be asked to stop taking your medication before surgery. Your surgeon can advise you on alternative medications. There may be leaflets, booklets and videos to look at or take away that can give you more information about the operation. Use this time before surgery to ask any questions you have.
After the procedure (Recovery)
The staff will help you to get up and walk about as quickly as possible. If you have had minimally invasive surgery, you may be able to walk on the same day as your operation. Walking with a frame or crutches is encouraged. Most people are able to walk independently with sticks after about a week. During your stay in hospital, a physiotherapist will teach you exercises to help strengthen your knee. You can usually begin these the day after your operation. It is very important that you follow the physiotherapist’s advice to avoid complications or dislocation of your new joint. It is normal to experience some initial discomfort while walking and exercising, and your legs and feet may be swollen. You may be put on a passive motion machine to restore movement in your knee and leg. This support will slowly move your knee while you are in bed. It helps to decrease swelling by keeping your leg raised and helps improve your circulation.
Risks
Risks include:
- Infection of the wound. This will usually be treated with antibiotics, but occasionally the wound can become deeply infected and require further surgery. Very occasionally, it requires replacement of the artificial knee joint.
- Fracture in the bone around the artificial joint during or after surgery. Treatment will depend on the location and extent of the fracture.Excess bone forming around the artificial knee joint and restricting movement of the knee. Further surgery may be able to remove this and restore movement.
- Excess scar tissue forming and restricting movement of the knee. Further surgery may be able to remove this and restore movement.
- The kneecap becoming dislocated. Surgery can usually repair this.
- Numbness in the area around the wound scar.
- Allergic reaction. You may have an allergic reaction to the bone cement if this is used in your procedure.
- Unexpected bleeding into the knee joint.
- Ligament, artery or nerve damage in the area around the knee joint.
- Blood clots or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Clots may form in the leg veins as a result of reduced movement in the leg during the first few weeks after surgery. They can be prevented by using special support stockings, starting to walk or exercise soon after surgery, and by using anticoagulant medicines.
- In some cases, the new knee joint may not be completely stable and further surgery may be needed to correct it.
Outlook (Prognosis)
Wear and tear through everyday use means that your replacement knee will not last forever. However, for most people it will last for at least 15-20 years, especially if the new knee is cared for properly and not put under too much strain. Revision knee replacement surgery (replacing the replacement knee) is usually more complicated and a longer procedure than the original surgery. There is no set limit to the number of times you can have revision surgery, but it is widely accepted that the artificial knee joint becomes less effective each time it is replaced. Research has also shown that patients become less satisfied with their artificial knee each time it is replaced. This is one reason why knee replacement is less likely to be recommended for younger patients.
FAQ’s
What is the duration of stay for Knee Replacement Surgery?
The total duration of stay for knee replacement varies from 14 to 21 days based on the whether it is a single Knee replacement or a double Knee replacement.
Single Knee Replacement : 7 days at Hospital & 7 days at hotel.
Double Knee Replacement: 14 days at Hospital & 7 days at hotel.
What is the cost of the procedure & the expected cost savings for a medical tourist?
Single Knee Replacement costs USD 8000 and the Double Knee Replacement costs USD 14500 in India based on the kind of surgery. For a medical tourist, this translates to savings of around 80% depending on the country of origin.
Note:
1) The price quoted above is a very close estimate of the actual cost. The actual cost will vary based on the hospital, the condition of the patient and the time of admission.
2) The procedure cost does not include the price of airfare and hotel booking. We can help you get the best deals for airline and hotel bookings at no extra costs through our travel partners.
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(source: NHS, UK)