Knee injuries have become more common than before over the past few years because people are exercising more. Open knee surgery is one of the ways to treat these injuries. The final decision to perform surgery or not to operate on the patient depends. However, there are several situations that lead to an open knee surgery. There are also native treatments that can be tried in place of or before surgery, such as drug therapy and physical therapy. Open knee surgery is performed through a wide incision in the front of the knee, which allows the surgeon to see the joint and solve a specific problem. The patient can return to his home within two or three days, depending on the size of the operation, after the doctor provides him with detailed instructions to adhere to them during the recovery period.
an introduction
Knee injuries have become more common than before over the past few years because people are exercising more. Open knee surgery is one of the ways to treat these injuries. If a doctor recommends open knee surgery, the final decision whether or not to perform it is up to the patient. This educational program helps build a better understanding of the benefits and risks of this process.
Knee anatomy overview
The knee joint is the place of connection between the thigh bone and the shin bone. The bones that participate in this joint are: the thigh bone. The tibia, which is one of the bones of the tibia. The kneecap is a free bone that gives the knee its round shape. These bones are covered with a special tissue called the meniscus, or the meniscus, where the smooth surface of the meniscus allows for smooth, painless movement of the knee joint. Ligaments connect the bones and help stabilize the knee joint.
Symptoms and their causes
Arthritis makes friction surfaces rough. Knee injuries can cause the meniscus to tear. Ligaments may also be torn. The kneecap may become unstable, with movement out of place. Each of these conditions can cause severe knee pain and an inability to walk.
Alternative treatments
People can try anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, to reduce inflammation in the knee. Physical therapy can also help maintain joint mobility as much as possible. Physical therapy may also help the joint injury not to worsen. The use of a knee stabilizer can also help. An injection of steroids into the knee joint can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Weight loss reduces knee stress for people who are overweight. The patient can lose weight by following a low-fat diet. Regular, studied exercise can also reduce weight. Open knee surgery may be considered when pain becomes immobilizing, and neither drugs nor physical therapy help.
Surgical treatment
The operation allows the surgeon to see inside the joint and fix the defect in it. The operation is performed through a wide incision in the front of the knee. If the surgeon finds a torn cartilage, he or she can repair the tear or remove the torn portion, depending on the degree of the tear. If the surgeon finds that the problem is a ligament rupture, he can repair it initially, that is, without using additional tissue. If the ligament tear is large, it may be repaired using a tendon from an adjacent muscle. If the cartilage surrounding the knee joint or kneecap is excessively rough, it may be scraped or smoothed with a laser. When there is a separate piece of cartilage free inside the joint, it may be removed. At the end of the procedure, the incision is closed. The patient can go home within two or three days, depending on the size of the operation.
Risks and complications
This process is safe. But there are many risks and complications that can occur, although they are rare. The patient must know these risks and complications in anticipation of their occurrence, because this enables him to help the doctor discover them early. Some of the risks and complications are related to anesthesia, some are related to surgery in general, and some are related to this surgery specifically. Risks related to anesthesia are nausea, vomiting, urinary retention, wounding lips, broken teeth, pharyngeal pain, and headache. The most important risks of general anesthesia are heart attacks, strokes, and pneumonia. Therefore, the anesthesiologist discusses these risks with the patient and asks if he is sensitive to any type of medication. Blood clots can form in the legs due to a lack of movement during and after the operation. These clots appear a few days after surgery, causing pain and swelling in the leg. The blood clot can break loose from the leg and move until it reaches the lungs, where it causes difficulty breathing and chest pain, and it may also cause death. In some cases, difficulty breathing can occur without warning. It is very important for the patient to inform the doctor if any of these symptoms develop. Getting out of bed and moving early after the procedure can reduce the risk of clots forming in the legs. There are risks seen in any type of surgery, and they are:
Infection, deep or at the level of the skin.
Bleeding, during or after the operation.
Skin scars that can be unsightly or painful.
There are risks and complications specifically related to this surgery. It is also very rare But it is important to know. Organs adjacent to the knee can be injured during the operation, but these injuries are rare. Arteries and veins that supply the leg can be affected. The nerves that supply the leg can also be affected, resulting in weakness or lack of feeling in the leg. This operation may not be successful in relieving pain, and the pain may become more severe than before the operation. But this is rare.
After surgery
Most patients leave the hospital within two to three days. The patient must keep his leg elevated, except when walking. The patient may be given a knee immobilizer or a cane for a short time after the operation. After the operation, physical therapy may be necessary to rehabilitate the knee.
Conclusion
Injury to the knee joint can occur in bones, ligaments, or cartilage. If the injury is large, open knee surgery can be an appropriate way to determine the type of defect and fix it. Open knee surgery is successful in reducing pain and improving the patient''s quality of life. This procedure is very safe and has good results. But, as we mentioned before, complications can occur, which it is advisable for the patient to know so that he can discover them early if they occur.
