The Purpose of Knee Replacement
In severe cases, total knee replacement surgery is used to resurface a person's knee, in the effort that the new knee implant will mimic natural function and range of motion (ROM) of the knee joint. Diseased cartilage and bone often times are removed in a total knee replacement surgery. The lower end of the thigh bone (your femur), the upper end of your tibia (your shin bone) and the posterior (back) aspect of the knee cap can all be resurfaced in this surgical procedure.
1.) How Should You Prepare for Surgery?
The total knee replacement surgery is significant, but equally important are the actions you take before the surgery ever begins. If you want to optimize your recovery, you should read the next section for some key pieces of information.
2.) Communication With Your Physician
It is important that you communicate with your physician and his/her support staff what devices you will be needing when you are discharged from the hospital. Many times, your hospital may have a total knee class you can take pre-operatively. At this class you can speak with nurses and therapists regarding your various questions and needs. One key reminder about these recommended products; often times, you can obtain medical products online at much steeper discounts than you would through conventional medical product vendors at the hospital.
3.) Potential Risks and Benefits of Surgery
It is important to note that you should analyze not only the potential benefits of a knee surgery, but also the potential risks. A pre-operative conversation with your physician and his/her team will be very helpful. Moreover, ask to speak with someone else who has undergone the same procedure with the same physician prior to your surgery. Do yourself a favor and ask for this information. Your physical aliments and significant medical history such as fever and infections (etc.) should all be reported to your surgeon. Medications you are taking and medications that you are allergic to are important to communicate to your physician as well.
If there is a loss of blood, which can happen with any surgery, your physician may recommend that you donate some of your own blood several weeks before your surgery. Your physician and his/her team can instruct you about where and when you can donate blood.
Make sure the orthopedist performing the surgery is board-certified, which can be determined by calling the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery at 919-929-7103.
4.) After Surgery, What You Can Do
Once your surgery takes place you will definitely need support. Among the products that your physician and his/her team may recommend is a post-operative hinged knee brace. The purpose of the knee brace is to help stabilize your knee directly after surgery. This knee brace usually involves an adjustable locking mechanism that can either help keep your leg straight, or allow for different degrees of knee flexion. Usually, as you recover, your physician will allow for more knee flexion, but directly after your surgery, the knee may need to be kept in pure extension (totally straight). It is important to speak with your physician about the exact duration of wearing parameters and activity levels with respect to your new knee brace as well.
Hopefully this information taught you something that you did not already know. Good luck!
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