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UpgradeThe most common cause of joint problems is arthritis. There are other causes such as congenital abnormalities and deformities due to accidents.
A joint is a point of contact between two bones, allowing movement and providing support. A total knee replacement is the surgical procedure for the replacement of a diseased or damaged knee joint with one made from artificial material.
The knee is one of the most complex joints in the body and is a major weight-bearing joint. It is the joint formed where the femur (thigh bone) meets the tibia (shinbone). The ends of the bones are covered with cartilage, which acts as a cushion and allows for smooth, gliding movement. The patella (kneecap) is a small bone which runs in a groove on the femur. The function and stability of the knee depends on muscles and ligaments. Flexion (bending) and extension (straightening) are the principal movements of the knee. Knee replacement surgery has become more common, due to advances in the types of implants and materials. The operation can greatly improve quality of life because of pain reduction, increased mobility and the correction of deformity.
Knee conditions tend to be treated conservatively initially. However, many joint problems are progressive and surgery may be inevitable.
The objective of knee replacement surgery is to improve quality of life. It has a high success rate and dramatically improves the quality of life by reducing pain, improving mobility and correcting deformities.
You will be seen by the surgeon before the operation. They will take this opportunity to draw (mark with a pen) on your leg. This is to make sure the correct leg is operated on. If you have any questions, this might be a good time to ask them. You will be measured for anti-embolic stockings (TEDs),which promote circulation in the legs and prevent the formation of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) or blood clots.
An anaesthetic will be administered in theatre. This may be a general anaesthetic (where you will be asleep) or a local block (e.g. where you are awake but the area to be operated is completely numbed). You must discuss this with the anaesthetist.
A tight inflatable band (a tourniquet) may be placed across the top of the thigh to limit the bleeding. Your skin will be cleaned with anti-septic solution and covered with clean towels (drapes). The surgeon will make an incision (a cut) down the middle of the knee. The knee capsule (the tough, gristle-like tissue around the knee) which is then visible can be cut and the knee cap (patella) pushed to one side. From here, the surgeon can trim the ends of the thigh bone (femur) and leg bone (tibia) using a special bone saw. Some surgeons also remove the underside of the knee cap.
Using measuring devices, the new artificial knee joints are fitted into position. The implants have an outer alloy metal casing with a “polyethylene” bearing which sits on the tibia. A polyethylene button is sometimes placed on the underside of the knee cap.
You will be admitted to hospital on the day of your surgery. Once you have been admitted, you will be re-examined by a nurse and your orthopaedic surgeon, who will mark your knee and ask you to sign a consent form. You will be measured for anti-embolic stockings (TEDs), which promote circulation in the legs and prevent the formation of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)or blood clots.
*It is very important that you tell the anaesthetist any medication that you are currently taking, or have been taking over the previous few days. There is a chance that certain medications can interfere with the outcome of the procedure, so it is important that you disclose the information. This includes:
Remember to bring the following items with you into the hospital:
Once the decision has been made to have a knee replacement you will need to attend a pre-operative assessment clinic. Here a registered nurse will give you information about what to expect during your stay in hospital. She will carry out blood tests and/or an ECG and may send you for X-rays. Don’t be alarmed if you need to undergo one or more of these investigations – they are done in your best interest, as the doctors need to know that you are physically able to cope with the surgical procedure.
It is very important to discuss any medication you are taking with the nurse. If you are taking blood-thinners you may need to discontinue them for some time before the operation as they can increase the risk of bleeding and can interfere with your surgery and recovery. You will probably be told not to take aspirin, ibuprofen and all herbal or homeopathic medicines for several days before your operation. You should take your normal medication up to and including the day of surgery unless you have been given specific instructions not to by your anaesthetist or surgeon.
When the procedure has been completed you will be moved into the Post Operative Care Unit (Recovery Ward), where the nurses will monitor your blood pressure and heart rate and control any pain you have by medication prescribed by the anaesthetist. Once your observations and pain are stable, you will be taken back to the ward, where the nurses will continue to monitor you. If you have any pain, be sure to inform the staff of your discomfort. You will also be measured for crutches.
You will be given intravenous fluids, which may include antibiotics, prescribed as a measure to prevent infection. You will also have three plastic suction tubes inserted into the wound to drain excess blood from the area. There will be a bulky dressing over the wound, which will be reduced when you begin mobilisation.
You will keep the TED stockings on and you will also receive a daily injection or tablet to prevent DVT.
Your rehabilitation starts in hospital. A physiotherapist will get you up and show you various stretching and strengthening exercises which are essential for your recovery. You will also be given advice on practical ways to adjust your lifestyle for the first few months after your surgery.
You will be discharged from hospital 2-3 days after surgery. By this time, you should be fairly mobile and able to climb stairs with the aid of your crutches. Before going home, you will be given an appointment to see your orthopaedic surgeon in two weeks’ time. Your GP will be sent a letter giving information of the procedure that was performed and your condition on discharge. It is vitally important that you continue with physiotherapy on an out-patient basis, and you will be contacted with regards to an appointment for this. You will be discharged on medication to prevent a DVT. At your two-week appointment your progress will be checked.
Generally, you may drive again six weeks after surgery. Please contact your insurance company to confirm specific details.
It usually takes about three months for the knee to start to feel normal again, though you should find that even on discharge from hospital you can function better than before the operation.
For the first four weeks after the operation, you will need to walk with the aid of crutches. After this you will be able to gradually wean yourself off them, going from two crutches to one, and then to a stick, used on the non-operated side.
By six months, you will have completed about 90% of your improvement; but remember, your knee replacement can still improve, albeit slowly for up to 12-18 months. The long-term outcome for your surgery is extremely good. Due to modern replacement implants, more than 90% of implants are still functioning at 10 years.
You will be seen by the anaesthetist before your operation. They will examine you and discuss the type of anaesthetic that will be used. Quite often a spinal anaesthetic is used. You will not be put to sleep for this, but it ensures that you are pain-free during the operation. For a while afterwards you will have no feeling in your legs and won’t be able to move them, but when the spinal wears off, function and feeling will return. Spinal anaesthesia has the advantage of having a lower risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
The anaesthetist will discuss pain management with you, if it has not already been done at your pre-operative assessment.
During your stay in hospital, a physiotherapist will give you practical tips on how to adjust your lifestyle for the first three months after the operation.
You have undertaken major surgery and need to take things easy for the first six weeks. This means:
Over-activity may cause wear of the implants. Most patients will be able to go back to normal activities such as walking, sitting or lying down within a year of surgery. Any sports or activities which place more strain on the knee replacement such as long-distance running, skiing or hiking should be approached with caution. It is advisable to discuss such activities with your doctor.
Before being taken to the operating theatre you will be asked to change into a rear-fastening gown and the TED stockings. You may begiven medication to make you drowsy and more relaxed. Once you have wheeled to the operating theatre, the anaesthetist will administer the anaesthetic, and the operation will be performed.
The surgeon uses the latest Computer Navigation technique to precisely cut the bone to remove the arthritic joint and balance the ligaments. This has been shown to correct the overall alignment and implant position more accurately than traditional techniques which should improve the longevity of the implant. The surgeon temporarily places two sensors into the bone above and below the knee, hence the two small additional incisions, which provides information for the Computer Navigation system. The surgeon is then guided by feedback from the system as too the optimum placement of the bone cuts.
The new implants are then securely fixed into place. The main wound is stitched with a soluble suture placed just under the skin so there are no sutures to remove. The two smaller incisions for the sensors are stitched with sutures that are removed at two weeks. The whole procedure takes about one and a half hours
There is always the possibility that the body’s self-defence mechanism will reject the ‘foreign body’. As with any transplant or major joint replacement surgery, this must be considered. When this happens, the body rejects the ‘wear particles’ that are produced by the components used in the production of implants. This causes the implants to become loose and an operation to replace them is needed. Very occasionally the joint will become infected and surgery is usually required to replace the implants. On very rare occasions, the components break and require further surgical intervention.
Infections: contracting an infection is very rare. Steps are taken during surgery to prevent this happening, such as special air-flow in theatre. If it does happen, the infection is treated with antibiotics. In chronic cases, further surgery may be required.
Blood clots/DVTs: This occurs in a small number of patients. Precautions for this include the spinal anaesthetic, injections when in hospital and tablets to thin the blood on discharge, anti-embolic stockings, and early mobilisation.
Post-operative bleeding: due to the type and length of the operation, some bleeding is inevitable. Excess blood is removed via a drain, which remains in the wound overnight. A collection of blood called a haematoma may build up in the wound, which, if large enough, may need surgical removal, although this is extremely rare.
After joint replacement surgery, aggressive antibiotic treatment is recommended. The main reason for this is that an infection can be transmitted from elsewhere in the body directly to the prosthetic implant.
Antibiotic treatment is advisable and highly recommended if you undertake any of the following.
Where possible, intramuscular injections or vascular catheterisation in the area of the prosthesis should be avoided.
One Health waiting times from consultation to treatment are 3 - 7 weeks on average.
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One Health waiting times from consultation to treatment are 3 - 7 weeks on average.
