Knee replacement, also called arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure to resurface a knee damaged by arthritis. Metal and plastic parts are used to cap the ends of the bones that form the knee joint, along with the kneecap. This surgery may be considered for someone who has severe arthritis or a severe knee injury.
The goal of knee replacement surgery is to resurface the parts of the knee joint that have been damaged and to relieve knee pain that cannot be controlled by other treatments.
Some of the myths and facts are:
MYTH :Â You have to be over age 60 to consider knee replacement.
FACT :Â Living with a painful joint that prohibits you from working or participating in normal life activities is an outdated way of thinking. Age is not necessarily a limiting factor. Today's joint replacements last 25 years or longer and, for most people, will last a lifetime.
MYTH:Â Proper alignment cannot be achieved with minimally invasive quad-sparing knee replacement.
FACT : KIMS’ total knee replacement surgeon in Hyderabad has performed innumerable quad-sparing knee replacements without any alignment issues. Our knee replacement specialist doctor in Hyderabad achieve the same alignment as with traditional knee replacement techniques.
MYTH: You might have to have another joint replacement during your lifetime.
FACT: Most total knee replacements will last at least 25 years or longer, and many will last a lifetime. The quality of life one achieves by living without knee pain for 25 or more years is priceless.
MYTH: Some patients are discharged and sent home the same day. That sounds risky.
FACT: Many of our patients go home the same day, not because they have to but because they can. They receive physical therapy while they are in the hospital and are evaluated to determine if they can manage at home. We have found that patients recover better in the comfort of their own home. Your surgeon will work with you to determine what is right for you.
MYTH: You should wait until you can't stand the pain any longer before considering joint replacement, and you should continue with medication as long as possible.
FACT: You don't need to suffer by waiting until the pain is intolerable. The longer life of joint replacements enables people to consider surgery earlier and at a younger age.
MYTH: After a knee replacement, it takes months to recover.
FACT: Depending on the activity, most patients who undergo quad-sparing knee replacement are able to get back to normal within a few weeks. A return to rigorous activity takes only a few months. Most people are able to perform routine tasks within a few weeks.
MYTH: Rehabilitation after knee replacement is long and hard, the new knee does not get the full range of motion, and the knee is stiff.
FACT: For many quad-sparing patients, rehab is relatively easy. Patients also tell us that their new knee is stronger than when their actual knee was healthy.
MYTH: I've heard that after knee replacement, I'll have to give up some activities and sports.
FACT: You have a high probability of getting back to activities like walking, biking or hiking in 4 to 6 weeks, taking it slow at first to determine how much the recuperating knee can tolerate. It will take a bit longer to return to more rigorous activity.
MYTH: Knee replacement surgery leaves a large scar that is noticeable.
FACT: In minimally invasive procedure, scarring is minimal compared to traditional surgery. In fact, the scar is typically only 3 to 5 inches long. As time passes, the scar will fade and become less noticeable.
At KIMS, one of the best orthopaedic surgery hospitals in Hyderabad, surgeons have performed innumerable quad-sparing knee replacements. Other providers may not offer it because of the investment in training and facilities to support the quad-sparing technique. It is important to know that KIMS earns the speciality in having one of the finest Knee replacement specialists doctor in Hyderabad.