The most important cause of knee joint deterioration is wear and tear. Obesity and rheumatic diseases cause premature wear of the knee.
When is Knee Prosthesis Necessary?
Genetic predisposition can be effective in wear and tear on the knee. Past physical traumas or repetitive minor traumas are causes of wear on the knee. Joint damage is more common in those who do heavy sports and calcification is more common in the joints of these people. Women, especially those over the age of 55, have knee problems more often than men. Knee problems are more common in people who have some blood diseases such as hemophilia and who work by crouching a lot. Pain intensity is the most important factor leading to surgery. Although the radiological films of the patient are important, they are not the only determinants in the decision of surgery. Follow-up can be continued in the pain that the patient with radiologically advanced calcification can bear. The most important criterion in the decision of knee replacement is the degree of functionality of the patient together with the clinical examination findings.
What are the Types of Knee Prosthesis?
Knee prostheses can be divided into two. The first is the total knee prosthesis, which covers the entire joint, which is the most applied. The other one is half knee prostheses (unicondylar), which started to increase in number after the second half of the 1980s. Half knee prostheses are applied to the inner side of the knee, which is the most affected area, in patients with intact knee ligaments. The incision made for this prosthesis is smaller and the hospital stay is shorter. Patello-femoral prostheses, in which only the back of the kneecap and the surface on which this kneecap sits, are used very rarely.
How Long Does Knee Prosthesis Surgery Take?
Knee prosthesis surgery is approximately 1, It takes 5-2 hours. He can perform bilateral knee surgery at the same time. However, the important thing here is to make a good patient selection. The preference in practice is to perform knee prosthesis surgeries separately for each knee in order to reduce patient comfort and possible problems.
How long does recovery take after knee prosthesis surgery?
Postoperative hospital stay is approximately 5 -7 days. . The patient stands up on the first day and The plate is carried out for as long as it can tolerate. The patient is discharged when he is able to use the stairs on his own, enter and exit the toilet. The patient is given a walker or canadian cane after surgery. Depending on the patient's tolerance, cane wands are used in individual conditions at different times. Although this period varies for each patient, it can take up to 6 weeks.
Is Knee Prosthesis Surgery Risky?
Like all surgeries, knee prosthesis surgery has its own risks. These can be problems due to the formation of blood clots, risks due to infection, that is, catching a germ. With current preventive methods, clot-related problems have decreased considerably for low-risk patients. In addition, serious precautions such as using blood thinners, compression stockings and devices or filters are taken to prevent blood clotting in the postoperative period. Although the risk of infection is generally seen more frequently in patients with reduced immunity, blood disease, diabetes (diabetes), and obesity, preoperative preparation has been significantly reduced today, especially with the contributions of physicians from other branches.
Is There an Age Limit for Knee Replacement? How long is the life of the prosthesis?
With today's technological opportunities, knee replacement surgery can be performed at any age. Young patients may need prosthesis due to traumas or rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis. However, in advanced age-related calcification, surgery is usually performed after the age of 55. The life of the knee prosthesis is about 20-25 years.
Is Physical Therapy Necessary After Knee Replacement Surgery?
Not all patients who have knee replacement surgery need physical therapy. However, an exercise program that the patient can do himself or in the company of a physiotherapist is recommended. These exercises should be done regularly for 6-8 weeks. Exercises are generally planned according to the needs of the patient.
Can Patients Who Have Had Knee Prosthesis Surgery Do Sports?
This decision varies according to the type of prosthesis and the wear condition of the joint. The patient should act in line with the doctor's instructions in this regard. First of all, walking and swimming, which are called comfort sports, are more suitable options for patients with prosthesis.
Are There Alternative Methods to Knee Prosthesis?
Smaller interventions such as 'arthroscopy' can be performed in knee osteoarthritis. In this method, the cartilages that are inserted and opened into the joint with a pen-thick, tubular instrument are cleaned and meniscus tears are removed. It is an operation with high patient comfort. However, the benefit of this method in a knee with arthritis is around 30 percent. Another negative side is that 6 months after arthroscopy, the patient's cartilage problem may progress rapidly and worsen. Therefore, this method is not preferred unless necessary.
If the general condition of the patient is unable to handle major surgery, he cannot use other treatments, or if he is young, he may choose this treatment. There are also angle correcting surgeries called osteotomy. It gives successful results especially for calcification that is not very advanced around the knee. In these surgeries, it is possible to change the load distribution and eliminate the pain by cutting the bone and reorienting it.
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