| Total
Knee Replacement |
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| What
to Expect from Knee Replacement operation |
An important factor in deciding whether to have total knee replacement
operation is understanding what the operation can and can't do. More than
90 percent of individuals who undergo knee replacement surgery experience
a dramatic reduction of knee pain and a significant improvement in their
ability to perform the common activities of daily living. However, knee
replacement surgery will not enable you to do more than you could before
your knee problem developed. For example if you could not run for 5 kilometers
before your knee problem started, do not expect to do so after your surgery.
Following surgery, you will be advised to avoid certain activities for
the rest of your life including jogging and high-impact sports.
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Even with
normal use and activities, an artificial joint (prosthesis)
develops minimal wear over time. If you decide to participate
in high-impact activities or are over-weight, this wear may
accelerate and cause the prosthesis to loosen and become
painful. With appropriate activity modification, knee replacement
can last several years.
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How
your New Knee is different
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You may feel some numbness
in the skin around your incision. You also may feel some
stiffness, particularly with excessive bending. These differences
often diminish with time and most patients find these are
minor compared to the pain and limited function they experienced
prior to surgery.
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After knee
replacement operation, you should be able to bend your knee
to right angle (90 degrees) by 2-3 weeks. Restoration of
full motion of your knee (heel touching buttock) is difficult
to achieve. The motion of your knee replacement after surgey
is predicted also by the motion of your knee before surgery.
Most patients can expect to nearly fully straighten the replaced
knee and to bend the knee sufficiently to go up and down
the stairs and get in and out of a car. Since the scar is
in front of the knee, kneeling can be uncomfortable but not
harmful.
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After
surgery, make sure you also do the following:
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Participate in regular light exercise
programs to maintain proper strength and mobility
of your new knee.
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Take special precautions to
avoid falls and injuries.
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Notify your dentist that you
had a knee replacement. You should be given antibiotics
before all dental surgery for the rest of your life.
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See your orthopaedic surgeon
periodically for a routine follow-up examination
and X-rays, usually once a year.
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