Knee Replacement or Arthroplasty: an operation to replace the knee joint with an artificial joint in those patients whose own knees are worn and painful, mainly because of arthritis.
Description
Joints can become worn with time or due to trauma or injury causing pain. This is generally known as osteoarthritis. When this is severe enough to cause debility in the knee joint, the joint can be replaced with metal components. This is done through an incision usually through the front of the knee.
The bones of the joint are resurfaced using prothetic covers which fit tightly over the bone surfaces which make up the knee joint. These days, the patients own ligaments are left intact. The 2 bones which form the joint are the tibia (shin bone) and femur (thigh bone). The surfaces of these bones are cut and removed so that the steel or metal alloy covers can be fitted to the ends of each bone. The space between these covers is filled by plastic spacers thereby reducing the friction between the 2 bone ends.
Joints can become worn with time or due to trauma or injury causing pain. This is generally known as osteoarthritis. When this is severe enough to cause debility in the knee joint, the joint can be replaced with metal components. This is done through an incision usually through the front of the knee.
The bones of the joint are resurfaced using prothetic covers which fit tightly over the bone surfaces which make up the knee joint. These days, the patients own ligaments are left intact. The 2 bones which form the joint are the tibia (shin bone) and femur (thigh bone). The surfaces of these bones are cut and removed so that the steel or metal alloy covers can be fitted to the ends of each bone. The space between these covers is filled by plastic spacers thereby reducing the friction between the 2 bone ends.
PRICING FOR KNEE REPLACEMENT - SINGLE KNEE
Price Range for Knee Replacement - single knee in India ($): 5850 - 7150
Estimated UK Price for comparison ($): $19800
Percentage Saving India to UK: 67%
Medical Facts
These days with more modern surgical techniques and metal alloys, these artificial joints have a lifespan of around 20 years. Of course, the exact time scale depends on the persons age and the extent to which the joint is used.
Complications include, infection, bone fractures around the joint, blood clots or DVT's (Deep Venous Thrombosis), bleeding, excess bone formation around the joint causing limitation of movement and nerve damage.
How You Will Feel:
This is usually done under general anaesthesia although spinal or epidural anaethetic can be used.
Hospital stay is usually around 7-10 days with increasing mobility, firstly with crutches and then with sticks.
Strong pain killers will be required for a few days after surgery, but can be used for a few weeks depending on the level of pain, followed by an extensive period of rehabilitation with input from physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others. However, the outlook after rehabilitation is usually very good. Most people feel very little pain within 6 months but total recovery can take 2 years.
How Long Will you stay in Hospital after your Knee Replacement - single knee?
12 Days as inpatient