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TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT
Total knee replacement is one of the most common and
very successful surgery done worldwide. This has been
done since the early 1970's and millions of people suffering
from Arthritic knees have got their life back. Afterall
life is mobility and mobility is life. Total knee replacement
surgery is considered for patients whose knee joints
have been damaged by either progressive arthritis, trauma,
or other rare destructive diseases of the joint. The
most common reason for knee replacement is severe osteoarthritis
of the knees.
The goals of a total knee replacement operation
are
* the relief of pain
* the correction of knee joint deformity
* the restoration of knee joint motion
* the restoration of knee joint function
* creation of a stable knee joint.
Total knee replacement
is a procedure utilized to resurface an arthritic knee
joint. Unlike total hip replacement, where a large segment
of bone is removed, in total knee replacement it is
simply the arthritic surfaces of the bone that are trimmed
and then resurfaced with metal and plastic parts. In
total knee replacement, the ligaments that join between
the femur and the tibia on the outer portions are maintained.
Recently designed Knee replacement surgery appear to
have 85% to 90% survival at twenty years.
What are the risks of undergoing a total knee replacement?
Risks of total knee replacement include blood
clots in the legs that can travel to the lungs (pulmonary
embolism). Pulmonary embolism can cause shortness of
breath, chest pain, and even shock.
What are the risks of undergoing a total knee replacement?
Risks of total knee replacement include blood
clots in the legs that can travel to the lungs (pulmonary
embolism). Pulmonary embolism can cause shortness of
breath, chest pain, and even shock.
Other risks include chronic knee pain and stiffness,
nerve damage, blood vessel injury, and infection of
the knee which can require re-operation.
Anaesthesia
Total knee replacement is done either under
General anaesthesia or Spinal Anaesthesia and the anaesthetist
will decide which is best for that particular patient.
Postoperative pain is managed by epidural analgesia.
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