Trust Our Award-Winning Surgery Center and Orthopedic Specialists
Whether from osteoarthritis, an injury or some other condition, stiff,
painful and unstable knees seriously restrict your mobility and make the
simplest activities excruciating.
In the last 20 years, knee replacements have seen incredible medical advances
in both techniques and recovery treatments.
The orthopedic surgeons at the Spine & Joint Institute are in the forefront
of employing the most advanced and successful procedures for knee replacement surgery.
The majority of individuals who undergo knee replacement surgery show dramatic
improvement, and astonishingly quick recovery—sometimes as little
as one month after surgery.
The term total knee replacement is a little misleading in that the knee
is not totally removed and a new knee inserted. Rather, the ends of the
femur and tibia are shaped and then capped with an implant device referred
to as a prosthesis.
The process is similar to having a crown put on your tooth. A plastic spacer
is attached to the prosthesis that creates a smooth cushioning effect
much like the original cartilage. Relieving the bone-on-bone contact eliminates
the pain and allows you to return to an active, healthy lifestyle.
Approximately 90% of patients report good to excellent results in terms
of pain relief on knees that have been replaced. Most patients are able
to significantly increase activity and mobility and return to the low
impact activities they participated in prior to the onset of arthritis pain.
Since no two individuals exhibit exactly the same knee conditions and problems,
your specific treatment may vary. Your overall health is more a determining
factor of your success than your age. Various factors such as weight,
activity types and activity levels must be measured when considering the
specific materials and procedures when it comes to your knee surgery and
recovery regime.
On the day of surgery, your care teams’ goal is to help you walk
with a walker. Usually on the following day, most patients are walking
the halls. People progress at their own rate, and while there are no absolute
timetables, normally, individuals use an assistive device such as a walker
or cane for about four to six weeks and then walk freely after that. Your
SJI care team will tell you when you no longer need your walker.
There are a great many important details about knee replacement surgery
that we have not gone into here because of space, and you will probably
have a number of important questions you would like answered before you
make your final decision. That is why the Spine & Joint Institute
has compiled a detailed booklet that provides complete details about the
procedure and answers frequently asked questions about knee replacement
surgery, the recovery period, your expectations and many other important topics.
Zachary
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