Which Surgical Options Do You Have For A Knee Replacement?

Which Surgical Options Do You Have For A Knee Replacement?

Knee replacement surgery – this is one procedure that often has people getting terrified and nervous. It is very natural for you to get worried when the doctor says that you need to undergo the surgery, but when there is no other option and you have to go through it, it is better to stay calm rather than getting tensed. And, such tranquility can come only when you have thorough knowledge about what the surgery is about and all the other important details associated with it. Once you are educated with these details, you will realize that undergoing a total knee replacement in Bangalore is not as risky as you may think. So, here is all that you must know about this surgery.

First and foremost, understand that your knee replacement surgery could be either of the two – total or partial. Total knee replacement is the traditional method wherein the damaged knee is removed and replaced with an artificial implant that is selected to fit your anatomy. Partial knee replacement, on the other hand, involves only a part of the knee being replaced by artificial implants, in order to preserve as much original healthy bone and soft tissue as possible.

Total knee replacement

In a total knee replacement, first the damaged cartilage surfaces and underlying bone surfaces at the ends of the thigh and shin bones are removed. Then, the tibial and femoral implants are press-fit or cemented to the bone. Next, a plastic button is inserted underneath the kneecap, after which a medical grade plastic spacer is fitted between the tibial and femoral components to help easy and almost natural movement of the knee. This procedure highly benefits patients by dramatically reducing knee pain and increasing mobility and movement to help them easily resume their daily activities. However, patients are given an exercise and therapy program to follow at home after the surgery for quicker recovery. More than 90% of patients undergoing this surgery have reported complete satisfaction. In fact, almost 90-95% of total knee replacement implants work well for 10 years or more, if extraneous activities are eliminated from the lifestyle of patients. A total knee replacement in Bangalore is now among the safest and most effective of all standard orthopedic surgeries. And, what make it even more successful are the prostheses used from brands like Maxx, Merill, and Heraeus that are easily available at Aditi Corporation.

Partial knee replacement

A partial knee replacement decision is taken by surgeons when they find patients with damage in only one compartment of their knee, out of the three compartments – medial compartment inside the knee, lateral compartment outside the knee, and patella femoral compartment positioned on the front of the knee between the thigh bone and kneecap. In this surgery, the bone and cartilage of the damaged portion of the knee are removed and replaced with artificial components. Such surgery requires a shorter stay at the hospital, faster recovery period, and less pain after the surgery. Patients who have undergone partial replacement surgery have also reported satisfaction. However, because the preserved bone is still susceptible to getting diseased and damaged, there is a chance that the patient will have to undergo a follow-up total knee replacement surgery in the future.

Traditional or minimally invasive surgery?

Whatever kind of replacement you undergo, it could either be a traditional surgery with an 8 to 12 inch incision made on the knee, or a minimally invasive surgery that involves a 3 to 4 inch incision. The traditional approach requires 3 to 5 days of recovery in the hospital and 12 weeks of complete recovery. On the other hand, because the minimally invasive surgery involves lesser muscle cut, it reduces trauma to the tissue, lessens pain, and decreases blood loss, resulting in consequently speedy recovery. This approach requires 2 to 3 days of stay in the hospital, and 4 to 6 weeks of complete recovery. However, minimally invasive approaches are not appropriate for every patient. So, it is better to let your surgeon decide which is better for you.