What is Total Knee Replacement?
Knee replacement is a surgical procedure to resurface a knee damaged by arthritis. Also called knee arthroplasty or total knee replacement, this procedure is carried out by metal and plastic parts that cap the ends of the bones. This forms the knee joint along with the kneecap.
What are the causes?
The primary cause for this surgery is severe arthritis or a severe knee injury. There are several types of arthritis that affect the knee joint. Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that affects mostly middle-aged and older adults, may cause the breakdown of joint cartilage and adjacent bone in the knees. Rheumatoid arthritis, which causes inflammation of the synovial membrane and results in excessive synovial fluid, can lead to pain and stiffness. Traumatic arthritis, arthritis due to injury, may cause damage to the cartilage of the knee.
How Does TKR Help?
The aim of this surgery is to resurface the parts of the knee joint that have been damaged and to relieve knee pain that cannot be controlled by other treatments.
Care After The Surgery
After the surgery, the doctors advise you to get up and walk as fast as you can. A physiotherapist, which you are encouraged to talk to, will teach some exercise & movements to improve and strengthen the knee.
It really is perfectly common to experience initial discomfort and pain while walking and exercising. Continue exercising and you will reach normalcy soon. Follow the instructions set by your surgeon and follow up on your visits.
