Knee Replacement

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Knee replacement surgery; It is a modern surgical procedure in which the knee joint, which has lost its function, reduced mobility and causes severe pain, is renewed to regain its painless functions.

Knee joint calcification, called gonarthrosis, is the most common disease in which knee prosthesis is applied. Apart from this, knee prosthesis can be applied in unrepairable multiple knee ligament injuries, loss of knee mobility (ankylosis), advanced cartilage damage, bone deaths called avascular necrosis, irreparable intra-articular fractures, long-term chronic knee dislocations and rheumatic diseases.

Knee prosthesis helps to regain knee mobility. Patients get rid of severe pain during the disease process after surgery. After knee replacement surgery, the patient can stand up in a short time and return to work and social life in a short time with good care in addition to regular follow-ups.

In general, examination of the patient and x-rays and MRI of the knee may be sufficient to decide on a knee prosthesis.

Knee replacement surgery is performed with open surgical incisions. There are different shapes and sizes of the surgical incision. The surgeon's experience determines the shape and size of the incision. In this surgery, after the calcified bone ends are cleaned and the shape of the leg is corrected, the bone ends are covered with implants compatible with the body.

The knee prosthesis, which is made with an experienced surgeon, quality implant, suitable patient and appropriate operating room conditions, is aimed to last for a lifetime or at least 20 years. When prostheses that do not last for a lifetime and wear out are replaced with an operation by experienced people, a new cycle of at least 20 years begins. It is possible to replace worn prostheses many times, but this is not necessary in the presence of experienced surgeons and quality implants.

The duration of the operation takes between 1-3 hours.

As with any surgery, swelling may occur after knee replacement. But there are no serious, painful or aesthetically noticeable swelling.

The day after knee replacement surgery, patients are relieved of their preoperative pain. Effective painkillers are given to the patients by placing a catheter from the waist so that patients do not suffer from pain after the surgery, thus ensuring that patients have a comfortable first day after surgery. In the first 1-2 months after surgery, patients may have mild to moderate pain due to surgery. These pains are short-term pains that respond immediately to treatment. There will never be severe pain like before the surgery, 99 percent of the patients are happy with this surgery.

Redness, warmth, severe pain and discharge may be signs of infection at the operation site. When these are seen, the patient should consult his physician for control.

In order to prevent postoperative clots, patients use blood thinners for 1-2 months. Depending on these, postoperative bruising may occur. It is not something to be afraid of and bruises disappear within 3 weeks. However, in this case, the patient should consult his physician for differential diagnosis.

After the operation, painless and non-disturbing sounds can be heard. This situation is not a common picture. In case of sound, the patient should consult his physician and determine whether the sound is normal or not.

Post-operative contractions are not caused by prosthetic surgery. The contractions may be due to an imbalance of electrolytes in the blood. Apart from that, it can also be seen in patients with back problems. Patients with contractions should consult their physician for differential diagnosis.

Patients are carried out on the same day after surgery or the day after surgery.

It is important for patients who undergo surgery to pay attention to the infection. When dental, urinary tract or intestinal infections are seen, they should not disrupt their antibiotic treatment when necessary.

Patients can easily go up and down stairs after surgery.

A balanced diet is important after surgery. Patients should take adequate amount of protein and avoid smoking.

In order to reduce the risk of postoperative clots, patients are recommended to wear compression stockings for an average of 3 months.

Although the risk of loosening after A is very low, it can be seen many years after surgery. There is severe pain especially during the stages of standing up from sitting position and starting to walk, and the decrease in pain as you walk is a finding in favor of relaxation. Apart from that, loosening can be easily detected by x-ray or tomography.

Patients are given simple exercises after the surgery. Patients who can do these exercises on their own do not need physical therapy much; However, postoperative physical therapy is very useful for patients who cannot perform the movements on their own.