Knee replacement surgery is one of the most common and successful operations in modern orthopaedic surgeries. It consists of replacing painful, arthritic, worn or cancerous parts of the joint with artificial surfaces shaped in such a way as to allow joint movement.

Reasons for Knee Joint Replacement

The main reason for joint replacement is the excessive pain that does not respond to conservative treatment, such as medication and phsiotherapy. Such acute and intolerable pain severely affects the patient's quality of life. Fot the patient to benefit from such an operation, clinical and x-ray examination must demonstrate that pain is caused by joint/cartilage deterioration and that pain is not for other reasons such as poor blood circulation or nerve inflammation.

Changes caused by illness

The capability of joint cartilage for self-renewal is very limited, unlike the skin, which can heal and renew itself. Lost cartilage can not be renewed. Therefore the main problem with advanced cases of arthritis is that the joint loses the cartilage that covers the bone, and in turn makes joint movement rough and painful.

If we take look inside the joint, we will find that the cartilage has become rough and the bone exposed, and due to constant movement, the bone itself is eroded. As a result, changes to the shape of the bone and distortion of the joint occur, which in turn affects the shape of the leg. For example, when the knee joint suffers erosion, the leg bows. Cartligae erosion is normally accompanied by changes in the joint and the joint capsule becomes thickened, due to inflammation, causing the formation of scar tissue. These changes occur gradually, but the more advanced stages of the disease can be seen clearly on x-ray.

Normal Joint versus Artificial Joint

The normal joint consists of two bone ends encased within a joint capsule; these bones are covered with cartilage, which forms a smooth and elastic surface that enables the joint to move easily without having to rub against each other. This is also made easier due to the viscous (synovial) fluid inside the joint capsule surrounding the bone ends.

The artificial joint is usually made of metal with smooth surfaces; a plastic (polyethylene) disc is placed between these metal surfaces to reduce friction. During the operation, the surgeon cuts a thin layer of the eroded bone surface, the thickness of which is carefully calculated to match the depth of the artificial metal surfaces, and the flexible plastic disc is inserted between the two surfaces.

The Surgical Procedure for Knee Replacement

The surgical procedure for knee replacement takes at around 1½ hours and operation is being performed in modular operation theatre having bacteria free environment for excellent results.

Post Operative Recovery

Medication is given to control the pain follwing the surgery, and this me be in the form of:

• Epidural Analgesia
• Controlled Analgesia (Infusion pump)
• Tablets
• Injections
• Suppositories
• Injections are given daily to prevent clot formation
• Physiotherapy starts on the second day post operatively

Mobility is encouraged with the physiotherapy and with the use of aids intially such as:

• High Walkers
• Frames
• Crutches
• Walking Sticks

When you are in need of surgical experts to treat your orthopaedic injury or chronic condition, from fractures to repairs and reconstructions, RG Stone And Super Speciality Hospital, has the expertise and commitment to take care of your family's orthopaedic needs.

The hospital with its extensive surgical expertise is equipped with the latest technology to assist in the accuracy of joint replacement. This latest technology and the most extensive range of full or partial artificial joints allows our doctors to give special consideration to individual patient's needs and ensures minimal surgical intervention.

We at, RG Stone And Super Speciality Hospital, offers some special features which are absolutely essential for joint replacement. The operation theatre at RG is modular theatre and has vertical laminar flow.

The ceiling of the OT consists of a Planum box supplied with conditioned air from central system via "S" class HEPA filters mounted on the inlet (on the top) which gives a filtration level of 0.3 microns.

All filters and housings are certified in accordance with German Standard DIN 1946 and DIN 4799

The air/light diffuser consists of two layers of monoflaments precision woven polyster of uniform porosity with an open area of sufficient resistance to create laminar flow from the diffuser face.

In tests, carried out by UK Department of Health, "Vertical Laminar Flow" was found to reduce the amount of bacteria present in a typical operating theatre by a factor of 15000.

RG Stone And Super Speciality Hospital provides the sterlity and cleanliness required in today's theatre environment especially for joint replacement.

RG hospital, with its extensive surgical expertise, is equipped with the latest technology to assist in the accuracy of joint replacement.
24 hrs. emergency services are also available at RG Stone And Super Speciality Hospital.
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