Knee replacement surgery is one of the most successful medical operations. It is also extremely common. More than 2.5 lakh people in India have total knee replacement (TKR) each year, which is 2.5 times the number of such procedures performed annually five years ago. And the technique is successful: According to studies, 90% of current complete knee replacements continue to work more than 15 years following surgery.
If any of the following apply to you, it may be time to consider knee replacement surgery.
Symptoms of knee pain include persistent or recurring pain, difficulty sleeping, difficulty walking or climbing stairs, stiff or swollen knees, and knee deformity (bowing in or out of the knee).
Deciding when it’s time is a personal decision between you and your doctor, but certain circumstances make you a better candidate for surgery.
- You have terrible arthritis.
Most people who have knee replacement have either osteoarthritis, the wear-and-tear kind of arthritis; or rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory illness that causes joint pain and destruction. or post-injury arthritis result in cartilage degeneration, causing pain and loss of motion. “When these symptoms become severe, knee replacement surgery may provide considerable symptom relief by replacing the worn-out surfaces of the knee.”
- Nonsurgical procedures no longer work.
If you have knee arthritis, the initial treatments start with conservative treatments, such as drugs, steroid injections, or physical therapy, to reduce symptoms. Dr. Nishant Soni believes that after some time they stop responding. At that time, one should consider surgery as an option.
- When the discomfort restricts you from doing daily activities or caring for yourself.
If alternative therapies fail to provide relief, your knee discomfort may begin to interfere with your everyday activities. “In general, the time of a total knee replacement is determined by how the knee affects your quality of life. Says Dr. Nishant Soni
- Feeling severe pain, even when resting, and you are unable to sleep.
According to Dr. Soni a Hip, Knee, and Micro surgeon with 14+ years of experience, pain at rest that does not respond to other treatments may also qualify you for the procedure
- Your knee is consistently swollen.
Swelling is another indication that your knee isn’t responding to previous treatments.
“A knee that is consistently swollen despite the use of anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections, and physical therapy suggests degeneration of the cartilage and/or instability of the knee, which can be confirmed with an X-ray,” Nishant Soni (MBBS, MS-Ortho), says. This can qualify you for a total knee replacement, he explains.
- Your knee has gotten distorted.
If your arthritis is advanced, it might alter how you walk, which can lead to other issues throughout your body.
“As arthritis progresses, the knee may become bowed or ‘knock-kneed,'” indicates Dr. Nishant. Â “If this type of deformity develops over time, a knee replacement may be indicated.”
- You are of a certain age.
Knee replacement is typically performed on persons over the age of 60, in part because younger people’s more active lives may put too much stress on the prosthetic knee, leading it to wear out sooner.
However, depending on your situation, knee replacements can be performed on people of various ages, so consult your doctor to see whether you are a good candidate.
Advantages of Minimally Invasive Robot-Assisted Knee Replacement Surgery
In a minimally invasive knee replacement treatment, an incision of four to six inches is created to install the knee replacement. This causes minor injury to the muscles and tendons surrounding the knee. The following are some of the advantages of minimally invasive surgery over standard surgery with a larger incision:
- Reduced discomfort, swelling, and blood loss.
- Reduced hospitalization and rehabilitation time
. • Faster return to activities.
Minimally invasive knee replacement surgery is not appropriate for every patient. Before deciding if the operation is right for you, your doctor will do a complete evaluation and take into account several criteria.
If your knee pain is restricting you from doing day-to-day activities, schedule an appointment with Dr. Nishant Soni, An accomplished Orthopedic and Micro surgeon based in Delhi at NuLyf Global, to discuss your alternatives. We specialize in both surgical and nonsurgical treatments for joint pain. To learn more about your choices for treating knee pain, call +91-8830702647 to schedule a consultation.
