What to expect from your knee surgery

A person may have knee surgery to treat pain in the joint due to an injury, such as torn cartilage or a torn ligament. It can also treat other conditions, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis.

Types of knee surgery

There are various types of knee surgery. The type that a person has will depend on the particular injury to the knee joint.

These include:

• Total knee replacement: This is the most common kind of knee surgery for arthritis. The operation involves replacing the whole joint. Surgeons only undertake total knee replacement surgery as a last resort, often when the joint is irreparable, the damage interferes with everyday life, and other treatments do not alleviate the pain

• Arthroscopy: Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery that involves making a small cut in the skin over the knee, inserting a small light, and using small instruments to diagnose and treat knee problems. 

• Osteotomy: This is an operation that involves the surgeon cutting, reshaping, and repositioning the bones to take some weight off the damaged part of the knee. Sometimes, surgeons carry out this procedure to help correct a broken bone that has not healed properly.

Are there any reasons why you can’t have a knee replacement?

Unfortunately, some people may not be able to have a knee replacement even though their arthritis is very bad. This may be because:

• your thigh muscles (quadriceps) are very weak and may not be able to support your new knee joint
• there are deep or long-lasting open sores (ulcers) in the skin below your knee, increasing your risk of infection.

For most people, knee replacement provides pain relief, improved mobility and a better quality of life. And most knee replacements can be expected to last more than 15 years.

Three to six weeks after surgery, you generally can resume most daily activities, such as shopping and light housekeeping. Driving is also possible at around three weeks if you can bend your knee far enough to sit in a car, if you have enough muscle control to operate the brakes and accelerator, and if you’re not still taking narcotic pain medications.

After recovery, you can engage in various low-impact activities, such as walking, swimming, golfing or biking. But you should avoid higher impact activities — such as jogging, skiing, tennis, and sports that involve contact or jumping. Talk to your doctor about your limitations.

Risks

Knee replacement surgery, like any surgery, carries risks. They include:

• Infection
• Blood clots in the leg vein or lungs
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Nerve damage

Signs of infection

Notify your doctor immediately if you notice:

• Fever greater than 100 F (37.8 C)
• Shaking chills
• Drainage from the surgical site
• Increasing redness, tenderness, swelling and pain in the knee

Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201  Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119