What Happens During Knee Replacement Surgery?

Knee pain can gradually spoil your day-to-day life – easy walking feels heavy, climbing stairs feels heavy, and disturbed comfortable sleep is laden with discomfort. For people living with severe arthritis or chronic damage to their knee joint, pain relief may be temporary or even ineffective with medication and or physiotherapy. 

Therefore, when the pain continues to interfere with daily living, doctors are often compelled to recommend knee replacement. A patient will feel more comfortable around the time of the procedure by understanding what actually happens in the surgical procedure and in fact this understanding fosters confidence, which is an important step toward recovery. 

Preparing for Surgery

Patients will have a full medical assessment prior to the surgery. Bloodwork, imaging scans and assessments of the heart are done to assure the body is fit enough to tolerate the surgical procedure. 

The orthopedic surgeon details the surgical procedure and discusses the risks associated with the procedure, as well as provides information about medications, fasting prior to surgery, etc and any lifestyle changes prior to the surgery. Some patients may also begin to receive light physiotherapy to prepare patients for their surgery to strengthen the muscles around the knee, which will help with recovery time.

The Surgery Step by Step

As the day of the procedure arrives, you will get anesthetized, either general (fully asleep) or spinal/epidural ( awake but numb from the waist down). Once the anesthetic is working, the surgical procedure will begin.

Making the Incision

The surgeon will make a deliberate incision over the knee joint to reveal the bone and cartilage that is damaged. The incision is made larger for a traditional total knee arthroplasty or smaller for a minimally invasive procedure.

Removing Damaged Surfaces

The worn-out or diseased portions of the thighbone, shinbone and sometimes the kneecap will be removed using specialized tools. This is a significant step because it removes the joint surfaces that are causing pain and limited range of motion.

Installing the Prosthesis

Next, the surgeon removes the surfaces of bone that have been damaged and replaces them with artificial components (the prosthesis), which are made from metal alloys, high-grade plastics or ceramics that are designed to replicate the normal motion of the knee. The artificial components are often affixed to the bone with surgical cement or with a method that encourages bone to grow into the implant to allow for further remodeling and stability over the long-term. 

Final touches

Once the new joint is in place, the surgeon takes a moment to evaluate the range of motion, ensuring that the knee feels right, appears to be in good position and is able to move smoothly through a full range of motion. With the joint in place, the surgeon closes the incision with either stitches or surgical staples and he/she then places the knee in a bandage. A drain may be placed, but not always, to prevent potential fluid accumulation.

Recovery After Surgery

As soon as surgery is complete, patients are  under recovery until they wake up from anesthesia. Pain control begins immediately with medication and within the first 24 hours physiotherapists usually encourage the gentle range of movement. Most have used a walker or crutches to walk shortly after surgery.

Rehabilitation occurs for the following weeks, with physiotherapy taking place and will aid in rebuilding strength, gaining flexibility and regaining confidence in using the new joint. Swelling may take a few months to resolve and get back to their normal daily life, but for most, they have a marked improvement in pain and mobility within weeks.

Why Timely Surgery Matters

Numerous patients hold off on knee replacement because of fear or uncertainty. However, delaying surgery may result in worse joint damage, muscle weakness and a longer recovery later. When performed at the appropriate time, knee replacement not only reduces pain but also improves quality of life and allows individuals to move and be active. 

Knee replacement surgery may sound intimidating, but breaking down the process into its orderly and precise steps reveals a methodical and effective process. Preparing the joint, placing the prosthesis and helping the patient back through rehabilitation is a coordinated process aimed at getting the patient mobile and inactive.

 If you are in need of recommendations for knee replacements, meeting with a highly experienced orthopedic specialist is the first step.  At Sugam Hospital we provide the complete treatments you need as a patient, with leading-edge treatments developed specifically for your care, the best orthopedic surgeons, and the strongest rehabilitation teams. If you are considering knee surgery and need more information, seeing the best orthopedic doctor in Chennai can help provide you with the confidence and clarity you need to move forward.