What Does A Total Knee Replacement Look Like?

Total knee replacement (TKR) surgery aims to remove the damaged or diseased parts of the knee joint and replace them with artificial parts. It generally looks like a dentist capping the tooth with an artificial part (prosthesis) after a root canal treatment. The diseased tooth is cleaned, and an artificial cap is placed over it to restore its normal function.

In TKR surgery, the damaged cartilage and bone are removed from the knee joint and is replaced by an artificial prosthesis. These parts are also known as implants, which are fabricated in the laboratory and are usually made up of metal, ceramic, or plastic.

The normal knee has three compartments: the thigh bone (femur), the upper end of the shinbone (tibia), and the kneecap or patella. Any alteration in their structures causes pain, reduced mobility, and reduced activity levels.

What Does my Knee Look Like After a Total Knee Replacement?

Total knee replacement surgery is a safe and effective procedure that helps restore normal knee movements in cases of any damage to its structures. However, surgery alone is not the key to the high success rates of the procedure. Proper recovery and rehabilitation are essential for you to get back to your normal routine activities. About 4 to 6 weeks post-surgery, working with a physiotherapist (PT) and resuming normal exercises play a crucial role in your recovery.

Swelling and pain are the most common complaints after a knee replacement. The swelling is normal and is usually moderate to severe in the first week. Mild swelling may normally persist for as long as six months post-surgery; the knee area may still be warm and swollen, as the tissues in the body take a long time to recover. The swelling may be present around your knees, below or above. Though swelling post-surgery is common, it is important to bring it to your surgeon’s attention if it is associated with other symptoms like continuous pain, bleeding or pus filled discharge from the operated site, increasing warmth around the incision site, etc.

By the first year post-surgery, the operated knee should look like a normal knee with a scar. You can resume almost all your daily activities, such as walking without support, climbing stairs, getting up from a chair, swimming, driving, bicycling, etc. The success rate of a TKR surgery is around 99 percent.

Description

The artificial parts may be placed in the following places in the knee joint:

• The lower end of the thigh bone- This is also called the femur. The replacement part is usually made of metal.
• The upper end of the shinbone- It is a large bone in your lower leg. This bone is also called the tibia. Here the replacement part is usually made from metal and strong plastic.
• The back side of your kneecap- Your kneecap is also called the patella. The replacement part is usually made from strong plastic.

Most artificial knees have both metal and plastic parts. Some surgeons now use different materials including metal on metal, ceramic on ceramic, or ceramic on plastic.

Indications For Total Knee Replacement Surgery

Chronic (long-lasting) pain, reduced mobility, and knee stiffness that interferes with your daily activities are the main indications of total knee replacement surgery. This affects your everyday activities like standing, walking, running, getting up from a chair, climbing the stairs, etc. Pain and reduced mobility could be seen in the following conditions:

• Osteoarthritis – ‘Itis’ means inflammation of the joints. It is the most common cause.
• Rheumatoid arthritis– It is a type of arthritis that spreads to other internal organs like the lungs, etc.
• Knee trauma and injury– Any injury to the knee that causes loss of movement of the joint  and inflammation of the area will affect your routine activities.
• Hemophilia – A genetic blood disorder where the blood fails to clot.
• Gout– It is a type of inflammatory pain due to deposits of crystals in the joints.
• Deformities with pain and loss of cartilage– Due to the wear and tear of the cartilage from age, twisting, jumping, etc., there is inflammation of the joint with impaired range of motion of the knee joint.
• Death of bone in the knee joint following decreased blood supply– When there is an injury to the knee joint, degeneration of the joint or the cartilage, the blood supply to the bone is compromised (avascular necrosis). This leads to the death of the bone. 

Initially, your doctor will recommend non-surgical treatments such as:

• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Walking aids or supports (like a cane or walker)
• Steroid injections
• Physical therapy

When the above traditional methods fail to provide you relief from pain, total knee replacement surgery is recommended.

Types of Knee Replacement Surgery

Depending on your individual symptoms and the severity of your condition, the orthopedic surgeons may recommend one of the following knee replacement surgery: 

• Total Knee Replacement Surgery (Traditional or Minimally Invasive)
• Partial Knee Replacement Surgery (Unicompartmental Knee Replacement Surgery)
• The Revision or Complex Knee Replacement Surgery
• Kneecap Replacement (Patellofemoral Arthroplasty)

Surgical Procedure

On the surgery day, you will receive anesthesia (medication that causes numbness) to prevent pain during the procedure. You will either have general or regional (spinal block) anesthesia. Your anesthesiologist will decide what type of anesthesia is right for you.

Total knee replacement surgery will generally take 2 to 3 hours, depending on whether it is unilateral (involving one knee) or bilateral (involving both knees). The surgeon will :

• Make an incision (cut) at the knee area.
• Remove any damaged, injured, or diseased cartilage and bone.
• Place the knee implant and position it properly.
• Secure the implant into place with or without cement.
• Insert a piece of polyethylene (plastic) which acts as a buffer (cushion) to create a smooth gliding surface between the metal parts of the implant.
• Close the incisions with sutures
• Cover the surgical site with a bandage

Takeaway 

Currently, more than 95 percent of advanced total knee replacements are still functioning well 15 to 20 years after the surgery. For the best treatment and care, visit us at Medfin and book appointments with our trained and well-experienced surgeons. Following our surgeons’ instructions after surgery, and taking care to protect your knee replacement and overall health, are important ways to contribute to your final success.

Disclaimer: The content on this site is the copyright of Medfin and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered as a substitute for medical and surgical expertise. Results from any treatments or surgeries are subjective to an individual patient and the type of procedure/surgery performed. Please seek professional help regarding any medical concerns. Medfin will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.