What Patients Need to Know on Total Knee Replacement

The concept of knee joint replacement continues to offer patients a significant increase in mobility and motion as well as a decrease in pain and discomfort. Joints commonly replaced are those of the knee and the hip. Joint replacement remains an elective procedure and requires a high degree of patient understanding, education, and cooperation. The patient must assume responsibility for physical therapy, exercises and weight control.

Usually joint replacement is done especially for severely destroyed joint surfaces as in arthritis, necrosis and other degenerative diseases. When the pain is increasing in severity, doctors would recommend this procedure. Moreover, it is done when there is decreased mobility and when a person has an inability to perform activities of daily living. Persons with irregularities of the joint surface such as following a fracture or instability of the bones are good candidates for a joint replacement.

Knee Arthroplasty or Total Knee Joint replacement is a medical procedure wherein the distal femur, proximal tibia, and articulating surfaces of the patella are replaced with prosthesis. Infection is a disastrous complication in knee replacement, so prophylactic antibacterial medications are administered and aseptic technique is strictly followed.

This procedure requires a considerable amount of patient compliance. The emphasis is on progressive exercise and prevention of complications. Following surgery, the knee is immobilized and the exercise program started as soon as possible. Many patients begin continuous passive motion using a mechanical device that flexes and extends the knee at a set range and rate. These are gradually increased as prescribed by the physician.

The goal of the exercise program is to achieve more than 90 degrees of flexion and full extension. Most patients remain on the machine when not ambulating. The continuous range of motion to the joints decreases postoperative pain, bleeding and possibly the incidence of deep vein thrombosis.

As the patient goes out of the hospital, it is of utmost importance to continue with the exercise regimen. This is to prevent scarring and instability. The wound will be monitored on follow-up checkups. However, it is the person's responsibility to monitor any signs of complications like infection especially at home. Contact sports or any activities that would involve pressure and stress on the operative site is prohibited. The recommended exercise is swimming because it increases muscle strength and at the same time prevents any pressure on the joints.

Home medications must be complied properly. In the future, when the patient will undergo other elective surgery or procedure, he must inform the physician that he has an artificial joint or knee. This is due to the fact that the prosthesis can be a good area for possible infection. Aside from the medications, the patient must take note of his diet to control his weight. Increase in weight can place pressure on the joints and thus would complicate things.

There are many things that the patient needs to know especially when it comes to total knee joint replacement. These important details will enlighten the patient about the procedure and also be informed of the things that he needs to do and the things that he must not do.