Knee surgery : Types & Recovery

Knee surgery is the surgical procedure performed by an orthopaedic surgeon when there is structural damage or other conditions such as osteoarthritis. There are some Best orthopaedic surgeons in Surat.Knee surgery is generally indicated in people above 50 years of age and in athletes.

Types

1)Meniscectomy

  • When there is a tear in the meniscus, patients complain of pain and swelling.
  • In this case the surgeon removes a portion of the torn meniscus via arthroscopy. This procedure is called Meniscetomy.

2)Meniscus Repair

● When the torn portion of the meniscus has good blood supply, the doctor may choose to repair the torn meniscus with arthroscopic procedure.

3)Meniscus Transplant

● Meniscus transplant surgery is done in a patient who has undergone complete removal of the meniscus and has continuous knee pain, a meniscus from the donor place in the patient's knee joint.

4)Plica Removal

  • The plica is a soft tissue remnant from fetal development.
  • Normally, it is lost over time, but in some cases, some of the plica will remain.
  • Excess plica can be removed by arthroscopic procedure from the knee.

5)Lateral Release

  • When the lateral retinaculum is too tight, it pulls the patella laterally and causes pain.
  • If the pain persists, the doctor may choose to release the lateral retinaculum, which allows for improved patellar tracking.

6)Arthrotomy

● When there is infection in the knee joint, the surgeon opens the tissue through the joint capsule, assesses the tissue, removes the fragments during arthrotomy, irrigates and cleans the joint.

7) Knee replacement

  • This procedure involves removing parts of damaged knees and replacing them with artificial parts called prosthesis made of materials such as metal, ceramic, or plastic.
  • Some best knee replacement surgeons are there in Surat who do advanced technologies.
  • In this procedure surgeons will remove the damaged and diseased portions at the end of thigh bone and top of shin bone and replace them with artificial implants made up of metal or plastic.
  • Both the bones are resurfaced to exactly fit the prosthesis.
  • Components are then attached to the thigh bone, shin, and knee cap, using surgical cement.
  • The surgeon might resurface the back of the kneecap, if it is needed.The artificial prostheses consist of three pieces:
  • Femoral component – Metal piece that caps the end of the thigh bone and has a groove, which allows the kneecap to move up and down as the knee bends and straightens.
  • Tibial component – Flat piece of a metal with a plastic plate that covers the top of the shin bone.
  • Patellar component – Dome-shaped piece of plastic that allows it to glide the Femoral and Tibial component.

11) Partial knee replacement

  • In this procedure only the diseased portion of the joint is replaced by metal and plastic.
  • The healthy cartilage, bone and ligaments are preserved.
  • This surgery is done in case of advanced osteoarthritis involving only a single compartment of the knee joint.

Recovery

  • There may be some temporary pain in the new joint after knee replacement surgery.
  • Patient may require use of a supportive device such as a cane, crutches, or a walker to get around – for 1 to 3 weeks after surgery due to pain and stiffness.
  • Most peoples are able to walk on their own, no need of assistive device about 4 to 8 weeks after surgery.
  • Key success of knee replacement surgery is physical therapy after surgery.
  • During rehabilitation appointment(s), after surgery, physical therapists will instruct you on correct use of assistive devices.
  •  Following up with a physical therapist after surgery, usually within the first week, is critical to ensure you get back to walking normally after surgery.
  • Physical therapy makes postoperative pain relief particularly important.
  • It may take 6 months to 1 year to totally recover from pain and swelling after surgery.

FAQS

1) Best age to have a knee replacement is?There is no such right or wrong age for knee replacement surgery. If someone finds difficulty in sitting, walking, unable to climb stairs and tremendous pain in the knee, they are considered as candidates for knee replacement. The age of around 50 to 70 years is the most common age group for knee replacement patients.

2) What is the most reported problem after knee replacement surgery?Most commonly reported problem after knee replacement surgery is

  • Joint stiffness
  • Decrease in joint function
  • Pain
  • Knee instability
  • Difficulty in normal daily activity

3) Is a knee replacement a major operation?

A knee replacement is major surgery, so it is normally only advised if other treatments, such as physiotherapy or steroid injections, have not reduced pain or improved mobility.

4) How long does it take to recover from knee replacement surgery?

Knee replacement surgery requires 4 to 6 weeks as a recovery period. It may require 6 months to a year to totally settle down the symptoms.