A total knee replacement procedure, also known as knee arthroplasty, is used to relieve pain caused by osteoarthritis and to restore function to severely diseased or affected knee joints. WHO research shows that osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder in India, with a prevalence rate that ranges from 22% to 39%. It is the second most common rheumatologic disorder.
Total knee replacement procedures have become necessary for treating patients with various knee disorders.
The procedure entails removing damaged cartilage and bone from the shinbone, kneecap, and thighbone and replacing it with an artificial joint made of high-grade plastics, polymers, and metal alloys.
How to Prepare for Total Knee Replacement Surgery
Before the procedure, a doctor or anesthesiologist may tell the patient to stop taking certain dietary supplements and medications, such as aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which make it harder for blood to clot, steroids and other medications, which affect the way the immune system works and increase the risk of infection after surgery, and opioid pain medications, which make the body less tolerant to other pain medications. Patients should also inform their doctor about any nutritional supplements or homeopathic medications they are using.
Also, on the day of the procedure, the patient shouldn't eat or drink anything after midnight. Furthermore, doctors advise the following precautions before undergoing total knee replacement surgery:
• Reducing tobacco consumption
Doctors strongly recommend that people stop smoking before knee arthroplasty because nicotine increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis and post-surgery infections and slows healing.
• Limiting alcohol consumption
Because alcohol interferes with the effects of anesthesia, alcohol consumption should be limited to a couple of drinks before the procedure.
• Reporting any underlying diseases/illnesses
Patients with a cold, the flu, an outbreak of herpes, or any other illness must tell their doctors about it before the procedure.
Because total knee replacement is a major surgery, it necessitates a number of preparatory and diagnostic tests, such as blood count and clotting tests, urine tests, and electrocardiograms (ECGs). The procedure is typically performed under spinal, epidural, or general anesthesia. Dr. Mehra Clinic provides knee replacement surgery in Chandigarh; schedule an appointment today.
Aftercare for Total Knee Replacement Surgery
Usually, pain medications are given by the doctor after a total knee replacement to help with the pain and discomfort. While non-opioid (non-narcotic) medications are usually used to relieve pain, opioid (narcotic) medications are sometimes prescribed before physical therapy and sleep for at least a few weeks.
A combination of pain-relief techniques that minimize side effects and complement each other is commonly used to treat pain. This is referred to as multimodal analgesia. If the pain is under control, the patient may be asked to walk a few steps with a walker or a physical therapist, as putting weight on the new knees (with assistance) so soon after surgery usually speeds up the recovery process. To learn more about the treatment, contact the best knee replacement doctor in Chandigarh & Mohali. Also, the patient is told to get up and move around as soon as possible, do some exercises (with the help of a physical therapist), take blood-thinning drugs, and wear compression boots.
Antibiotics are also prescribed by doctors after total knee replacement Surgery to reduce the risk of infection. In addition, patients are advised to eat healthy foods, avoid smoking, and control their blood sugars (if diabetic) after these procedures to reduce the risk of infection.
Physical therapy is another important part of the recovery process. For the knee replacement surgery to be successful, the patient needs a personalized and effective recovery and rehabilitation plan. This can help the patient:
• Be discharged from the hospital sooner.
• Quickly regain range of motion and knee strength
• Quickly regain range of motion and knee strength
• Resumption of physical activities
• Avoid complications
Also, some doctors suggest recovery plans that include the use of machines that move the body without the person doing anything. While the patient is lying on their back, these machines slowly move the affected leg to help straighten and bend it. A patient can use this machine for up to 8 hours per day. Patients are also told to use these machines for a short time at home after they get out of the hospital.
How Much Weight Can Be Safely Placed on the Knee After TKR?
Following total knee replacement surgery, patients are given weight-bearing guidelines to follow both in the hospital and at home. Most of the time, the following things determine how much pressure the knee can take after the surgery:
• The type of surgery performed (one-sided knee replacement or total knee replacement)
• The bone condition
• The type of surgery performed (one-sided knee replacement or total knee replacement)
Patients will, however, be asked to slowly put more weight on the knee to help it heal faster.
FAQs
1. What is the best way to prepare for a TKR?
Here are some things a patient can do to better prepare for a TKR:
• Follow your doctor's advice about how much alcohol, tobacco, certain medications, and other drugs you should use.
• Obtain any assistive equipment, such as sock aids, shoe horns, walking aids, a walker, or a cane, that may be required following the procedure.
• Work out to strengthen and condition the bones and joints so that you can heal faster after the procedure.
2. How painful is a TKR?
Following the procedure, patients may experience mild pain. Some patients have said that their pain got a lot worse after the first few months of healing.
3. What is the quickest way to recover from a TKR?
Patients can speed up their recovery by:
• wearing knee braces
Patients can speed up their recovery by:
• wearing knee braces
• undergoing physical therapy and rehabilitation
• exercising regularly
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