Full Knee Replacement Surgery - Basic Facts for Prospective Recipients

Full knee replacement surgery is done when the disease has completely worn away the cartilage between the bones of the knee, leaving them to scrape together painfully with no cushion. The main culprit is arthritis. When conservative treatments that include NSAID medications, corticosteroid injections, Viscosupplementation, and other management techniques fail, surgery is the only viable option left. This major operation will require making several changes to the knee and its make up as well as up to a year recovery time, depending on various factors including age, weight, overall health, and more. Surgery last, in total, about two hours, and your hospital stay will be between 3 and 7 days, depending on how well you do.

During a full knee replacement surgery, the ends of both the femur and lower leg bones, and the kneecap are fit with artificial hardware lined with plastic and metal. Surgeons will usually replace the entire surface at the ends of the thigh and lower leg bones and secure the new hardware into place with bone cement. Strides are being made towards being able to replace only the damaged or diseased parts of the knee joint. As of now, this is called a partial joint replacement. Surgeons may or may not remove all ligaments associated with the knee joints, depending upon the type of surgery being done and the condition of the ligaments.

While your knee is exposed during a full knee replacement surgery, your surgeon will remove any bone spurs that are present as well as correct any defects that may be causing either bowleggedness or knocked knees. The surgery is relatively short, about two hours total from the time you are wheeled into the surgery room until you arrive in recovery. In most cases, you will be put under general anesthesia; however, a spinal, epidural, or nerve block may be used, as well. Long before surgery begins, your doctor would have talked to you about which type of knee replacement was most appropriate for your condition.

Immediately after surgery you will begin your rehabilitation. Before leaving the hospital, usually a stay of three to five days, you will have already learned to fully extend your leg, bend it to a 90 degree angle, and even learned how to walk up and down one or two stairs with the aid of a walker or cane. And, of course, they will have you up and about, walking a slow, measured, pace. Walking will be your number one physical therapy work out and is completely healthy and safe. Your knee will need the gentle workout to stay in prime working condition and should remain a major part of your recovery effort during the year following surgery.