BY: Robby Rusch
Surgical procedure in which the diseased part of the knee is replaced Replaced with artificial substances Can be partial or total More abundant in the elderly Considered last resort Very commonly done procedure
Arthritis breaks down connective tissue and articulating membranes between femur and tibia Causes extreme pain and discomfort Those affected have hard time walking Surgery will help to restore homeostasis and allow patient to walk and move without pain
osteoarthritis-k.htm Knees that are affected have no visible spaces
Diagram Of Knee Replacement Surgery Diagram Of Knee Replacement Surgery
A curved incision is made Patella is removed Posterior cruciate ligament is cut and reflected Bottom of Femur affected by arthritis is cut off Top of Tibia affected by arthritis is cut of Parts removed are sized up The Femur end is covered by metal
Plastic covering attached to a metal rod covers the Tibia’s end Depending on the Patella condition, a plastic button may be added underneath Patella is connected to connective tissue covering the knee Posterior cruciate ligament either sacrificed, retained, or substituted Skin is sutured back together
Video
Relatively new Smaller Incision (4-6 inches compared to 8-12) Less damage to the tissue around the knee As a result 1) Shorter hospital stay 2) Shorter recovery 3) Smaller scar
Released out of hospital after they can prove to get out of bed and walk to the bathroom 80% recover six weeks after surgery Full recovery should be made from about three to six months from surgery date Physical therapy is required multiple times per week
Blood clots moving to the lungs ◦ Could also stay in legs and cause poor circulation Nerve damage- loss of leg movement Infection of incision ◦ Antibiotics are given post surgery Blood transfusion may be required All surgeries have risks
Arthritis: Knee Replacement Surgery, WebMD, Copyright 2010, /knee-replacement-surgery Cluett Jonathen, Considering Knee Replacement Surgery?, Jan. 24 th 2010, replacement/tp/kneereplacement.htm Shiel C. William, Total Knee Replacement, Medicinenet.com, copyright 2010, eplacement/article.htm