Understanding Knee Replacement Surgery

By Author: Lucy Carter
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Knee replacement surgery is most commonly recommended for those who suffer from inflammatory joint diseases such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Approximately 70 000 people in the UK undergo this procedure every year, and the figures are increasing. The majority of people who need a knee replacement operation are over 65, with slightly over half the patients being women.

If you suffer severe pain and serious mobility problems because of arthritis and if remedies such as drug treatments, physiotherapy and weight loss are not effective enough, a knee replacement could be the solution to restore your quality of life.

The following easy guide will help you understand knee replacement surgery, so you can proceed with this option if needed knowing you have the right facts.

The Procedure

With a healthy knee, the ends of your thigh and shin bones are covered with a hard cartilage which allows your bones to easily move against each other. What happens with arthritis is that it damages this cartilage so that your bones rub painfully against each other.
In a nutshell, knee replacement surgery ...
... involves a surgeon removing the damaged parts of the bones and any remaining hard cartilage, so that it can be replaced with substitute metal and plastic parts. The plastic will function in the same way as hard cartilage, which lets the artificial joint move freely.

There are various types of artificial knee joint procedures as well as different surgical techniques in carrying them out. The main types of surgery are total knee replacement where both the joint at the end of the thigh bone and the joint surface at the top of the shin bone are replaced, partial knee replacement where only one side of the knee is damaged and needs replacing, reduced invasive surgery which requires a half-knee replacement and finally kneecap replacement. With the latter, surgeons usually prefer total knee replacement as a remedy since there is a high risk of the arthritis progressing to the rest of your knee joint.

What To Expect - Pros and Cons

Approximately 9 out of 10 people who've had a knee replacement operation say they are happy with the results. An artificial knee joint which replaces a damaged one will generally allow significant improvement in your everyday activities, plus exercises such as cycling, swimming, golf or tennis should once again be possible.

While most people rate their new artificial joint to be about 'three-quarters normal' in comparison to their natural knee joint before it was affected, it must be said however that you are still likely to have certain difficulties with movement after the procedure, since most artificial knee replacement joints are not designed to bend completely.

Post operation, there will initially be some numbness on the outer edge of your scar - this will improve over the following two years, but it's unlikely that complete feeling will return to full normality. Furthermore, although it will usually be possible to kneel, some people find it uncomfortable to put weight on their operation scar.

Another issue to be aware of is that a replacement knee joint will naturally wear out over time and may become loose. Usually the artificial knee will last for over 20 years, so younger patients are likely to need further knee surgery later in their life. The likelihood of needing another operation is increased if you are overweight, involved in heavy manual work or engage in vigorous sport including extensive running. It's also important to note that while artificial joints can be replaced again if needed, this 'revision' surgery will be more complex and beneficial results tend to diminish with each new additional operation.

Conclusion

All in all, knee replacement surgery is a highly viable solution for those suffering from severe arthritic pain in that area. Above all, it's crucial to discuss your condition with your doctor so that you can decide together whether this will be the right way forward in terms of improving your quality of life.
Angela Cilano is a medical researcher and consultant on knee replacement surgery.