Sunday, 20 November 2011

Knee replacement or Arthroplasty

A healthy knee joint is a combination of tibia that is the top of shinbone and femur which is the bottom of thigh bone and in between is patella, the knee cap. Padding is provided by cartilage, it is present between the bones to provide an effortless and smooth movement to the joint. Synovial membrane makes lubricant that keeps the joint moist. If all the above are in order and healthy, the knee is considered to be in remarkable condition. In case of arthritis and osteoarthritis the cartilage starts wearing off, leading to pain and stress. The joints start eroding because the protective layer starts getting hampered and it affects the daily routine. Knee damages can be cured and today there is a permanent solution to this and doctors are proficient is performing knee replacement also known as knee arthroplasty.

Today there are three major type of surgeries carried out, the first one being Arthoscopic knee surgery. This is done in case of mild arthritis, broken cartilage, knee cap misalignment, damaged cruciate ligament. This surgery is done by using a camera that is inserted in the knee joints and doctors can see through it. The insertion is very small and through it the surgeon pulls out the damaged tissue or the broken cartilage. Second is Partial knee replacement, also known as uni-compartmental replacement in which only the damaged section of the knee is removed and replaced with compartment made of metal or plastic. The healthy joint and cartilage are not even touched. This kind of replacement is comparatively quick, causes less blood loss and less post-surgical pain.

The third and the most practiced knee surgery is total knee replacement, a surgical procedure wherein the diseased joint is completely replaced with an artificial material. In total knee replacement, the femur bone is detached and a metal shell is placed instead of original bone. The Tibia that is the lower leg bone is also removed and substituted with a plastic piece accompanied with a metal stem. The whole replacement depends on the damage caused to the knee joints and the kneecap. This surgery is advised in the advanced stages of arthritis where patients suffer from acute pain and it becomes unbearable. The new metal joint placed instead of the damaged one prevents the bones to rub with each other and this provides complete relief from the pain.

The knee replacement is very secure and has given successful outcomes. Though it is knee transplantation but it is advisable to mobilize early. The patience is kept under observation to keep an eye on the healing process. The entire process might take a hospitalization of 4 to 8 days. Certain exercises are prescribed by the doctor that helps in better and quick healing of the joint. No doubt that the basic symptoms of arthritis, pain and stiffness can be cured for a while through medication and weight loss in obese people or injections but it’s not the permanent cure and is likely to worsen the condition of the knees. Knee replacement is one effective and permanent solution to all knee troubles. For more details visit www.cmcmohali.com

No comments:

Post a Comment