What Happens During a Knee Replacement Surgery?

The usual treatment for osteoarthritis and other degenerative joint diseases is knee replacement surgery. Because of the disability and debilitating knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, this surgery is a permanent solution that doctors recommend. This procedure is also called arthroplasty, in which damaged parts of the knee are replaced with artificial parts or implants.

In this post, you’ll learn what happens during a knee replacement surgery to decrease your anxiety associated with the procedure. 

Length of the Procedure 

Knee replacement surgery can generally take one to two hours. It depends on the type of surgery performed, whether it is a partial or a total knee replacement.

Anesthesia

The doctor may recommend giving you general anesthesia, so you’ll be totally asleep during the procedure, which most people choose. Spinal or epidural anesthesia is another option, which keeps you awake, but numbs you below the waist.

Cut or Incision 

For a minimally invasive surgery, the surgeon makes a shorter incision of around 4 to 6 inches. This procedure results in less damage to the surrounding muscle and tendon. Good candidates for a less invasive knee replacement surgery are patients who are young, healthy, and thin. 

Usually, the surgeon makes an incision of about 8 to 10 inches at the front of the affected knee and takes out the damaged joint part, and the thigh bone and shin surfaces next to the joint. After this, the surgeon implants the artificial knee.

General Knee Replacement Process 

You would be required to stay in the hospital after knee replacement surgery. Undergoing this procedure on the day of your surgery typically includes the following steps: 

• The nurse will ask you to wear a hospital gown. 
• The nurse will start an intravenous or IV in your hand or arm. 
• Proper positioning will be carried out for the procedure. 
• The nurse will insert a urinary catheter as ordered by the doctor.
• Excessive hair will be clipped off at the surgical site.
• Your respiratory rate, blood pressure, heart rate, and your blood oxygen level will be monitored by the anesthesiologist throughout the surgery.
• The nurse will clean the surgical site using an antiseptic solution.
• The doctor will perform knee replacement surgery.

Knee Replacement Operation Procedure 

A pre-operative assessment will be done before the operation. During a knee replacement surgery, a senior-level surgeon performs the operation with the help of junior doctors and operating nurses, as well as an anesthesiologist on the side. 

Total Knee Replacement

If the damage in your knee joint is extensive, your doctor will require you to undergo a total knee replacement procedure. 

Here’s how the operation is done:

• The surgeon will replace both sides of the knee joint with an implant, which usually takes one to three hours. It is done by cutting the front of the knee, exposing the kneecap. 
• The thigh and shin bones’ damaged ends are cut and precisely measured to fit the implant or prosthetic replacement that is made of metal. The flat metal plate that replaces the end of the shinbone and the curved metal that replaces the thigh bones are fixed to the bone using bone cement. Also, the surgeon places a plastic spacer, which serves as cartilage to reduce friction on the area when you move your joint. 
• The surgeon replaces the back of your knee cap depending on its condition. 
• The surgeon closes the site by stitching, and dressing is applied over the wound. A splint is used in some cases to keep the leg immobile. 

Partial Knee Replacement

The surgeon will advise you to undergo a partial knee replacement procedure if there’s only damage on one side of your knee. It involves the removal of less bone and a smaller incision. 

Here are the benefits of partial knee replacement surgery: 

• Fast recovery period 
• Less likely need for blood transfusion
• Short hospital stay 
• Results in natural knee movement 
• Be more active as compared to total knee replacement after surgery 

Other Procedures

The other knee joint procedures include kneecap replacement, in which only the kneecap is affected, and a patellofemoral joint arthroplasty or patellofemoral replacement is performed. A mini-incision surgery is performed for a partial knee replacement. 

On the other hand, image-guided surgery involves using computerized images for more accurate positioning of the new artificial knee joint. A patient-specific knee replacement is an advanced procedure guided by an MRI scan, creating a well-fitted prosthesis. 

Conclusion

Knee replacement surgery is a major type of joint surgery that would require the collaboration of medical experts, like surgeons, nurses, and an anesthesiologist. During this procedure, you may choose to undergo general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia, depending on your current medical condition. The surgeon will make incisions and remove damaged joints and bones, and replace them with an artificial or metal implant.