Some people have to change the knee joint in certain cases, so what are the reasons? And what is the diagnosis? How is the operation done? Learn the details in the following article.
Learn in this article the most important details about total knee replacement
What is knee joint replacement surgery?
Patients who suffer from severe damage to the knee undergo replacement of the natural joint with an artificial one, and this replacement is done through a surgical procedure in which a piece of the artificial knee is attached to the femur and the other piece is attached to the upper part of the shin bone, and a piece of polyethylene is placed between the bone Thigh and calf shock absorbers.
Reasons to change the knee joint
There are several reasons for changing the knee joint, here are the most important of them
1. Osteoarthritis and knee stiffness
The main reason for knee joint replacement surgery is osteoporosis and knee roughness, as knee roughness affects the cartilage in the joint and becomes unable to absorb shocks.
2. Severe, unbearable pain in the knee
Pain is one of the most common complaints in people who suffer from erosion of the knee joint, and it is mostly in the knee itself. However, most of the time, the patient can feel pain on the inner or outer side, or behind the kneecap.
At first the patient feels the pain during the resting periods so it is called the onset pain, then after a few minutes the pain begins to slowly fade away but when the wear in the knee increases the pain occurs during rest and can affect sleep at night.
3. Stiffness and stiffness in the joint
Stiffness occurs initially during the night and morning periods, then it increases gradually, so that it causes the patient difficulty in changing clothes and wearing shoes and socks, and it also affects the rest of his various daily activities.
4. Difficulties in walking
When the erosion of the knee becomes in an advanced stage, the patient will experience difficulties in walking and pain in the entire lower limb, then after the passage of time the patient will need assistive tools, such as: crutches, you will notice that in most cases riding a bicycle is easier than walking.
5. Other reasons to change the knee joint
There are other reasons to change the knee joint, such as
Obesity.
growing old.
Bowing in the knee and previous injuries are among the factors leading to wear and changes in the knee joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis.
Fractures and some congenital factors.
Diagnosis before knee joint replacement
The attending physician must subject the patient to clinical examinations before the operation in order to obtain an accurate assessment of the patient''s condition through the following:
Physical diagnosis: where the doctor asks him about the medical history and symptoms, and he examines the knee and compares it with the other knee.
Medical images: X-rays and MRIs.
Medical care before, during and after knee replacement surgery
This surgical procedure aims to obtain freedom of movement without pain, restore the joint to its full function, and restore stability to it while achieving a full range of motion in all directions, and this is done through the following:
1. Teaching the patient about physiotherapy and rehabilitation before the operation
The therapist teaches the patient some exercises before the operation in order for the patient to be ready to practice these exercises properly after the operation, in this way the recovery process begins faster.
It is also important that the patient''s functional condition is as good as possible before the operation, and this will definitely help him recover quickly after the operation.
2. Medical procedures for the operation
The operation takes 60-90 minutes, and it includes placing three parts of the knee: the thigh bone part, the shin bone part, the patella part sometimes, and the polyethylene joint.
The first day after the operation is a day of complete rest, and after the second day, the medical team begins to move the knee, and after the fourth day, effective exercises begin in the hospital.
3. Physiotherapy and rehabilitation after the operation
In many studies, the effect of physiotherapy has been studied after knee replacement surgery, and these studies have shown that physiotherapy is very beneficial, such as: hydrotherapy, balance exercises, or cycling.
Physiotherapy steps after the operation
There are four steps in the knee rehabilitation process
Joint movement.
Maintaining static muscle strength.
Obtaining dynamic strength, which occurs during movement.
Achieving stability and stability of the joint (Stabilization).
Important exercises for the period after joint replacement surgery
The following are the most important exercises after the operation
1. Exercises in a sitting position
Here are the most important exercises in a seated position
Pull the foot towards you, then relax it and repeat the exercise 10 times, which improves blood circulation.
Press the knee down and then pull the kneecap up.
Place a pillow under the knee, and straighten the leg.
Straighten the leg with the help of the other leg, and repeat the exercise 10 times.
2. Standing exercises
Stand nately on tiptoe and on heels. A chair can be used to maintain balance and prevent falls.
Stand on one leg, trying to put your weight on it.
Possible complications after knee joint replacement
Here are the most important complications of the operation
Stiffness in the joint.
Swelling and pain in the joint.
Bone fractures.
Nerve damage.
Joint instability.
Loss or fractures of one of the parts of the artificial joint.
