Question 1

how safe is hip and knee replacement surgery?

Accepted Answer

Both have become : Very common and routine procedures.  These have the best outcomes done by surgeons who do a lot of them.  However, a lot also depends on  the status of the patient with obesity, malnutrion, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, osteoporosis, presence of autoimmune diseas such as lupus, clotting disorders, prior blood clots or dvt, varicose veins and deformities in legs all having an impact.

Question 2

if one has initial stages of oa in the hip or knee, is it inevitable that  hip or knee replacement surgery will happen?

how can i avoid it?

Accepted Answer

Not inevitable : Hip and knee OA are very frequent and is OA in the weight bearing joints, thus weight loss and exercise to strengthen the muscles surrounding this joints is key. The x-ray can showed bone on bone OA but what matters is if you are having pain. If pain and had tried  lose weight and PT, then try medications first, even injeccions. If nothing works then consider surgery if your lifestyle is affected.

Question 3

what things have to be taken care of for a person wishing for a knee replacement surgery?

Accepted Answer

Find a surgeon: You would need to see an orthopedic surgeon   who would arrange this  /you would need to be medically evaluated as to you general health and ability to undergo  anesthesia and surgery  this usually means a visit with a medical doc like an internal med doc and some lab testing maybe an ekg ( usually done for those with ^ blood pressure/ then it takes a good bit of "paper work"  most pts do well.

Question 4

what are the risks of  total knee replacement surgery?

Accepted Answer

Infection;loosening: Loosening either because of infection and or other causes are the most common causes. Blood clots are other major complications one worries about. Fortunately these occur in less than 25 of patients.

Question 5

what is the popping i hear after knee replacement surgery?

Accepted Answer

Metal on Plastic: The knee prosthesis we use to resurface or replace your joint is made of metal and plastic.  When the two pieces contact each other it is not uncommon to notice a pop or click.  There are other far less common reasons too, like instability, where the knee is loose.

Question 6

what happens to torn ligaments during knee replacement surgery?

Accepted Answer

Balanced: The acl is sacrificed. If the PCL is torn a posterior stabilized prosthesis is used. The mcl & lcl are balanced.

Question 7

how can you sleep on side after total knee replacement surgery?

Accepted Answer

Yes: I do not restict my patients from sleeping on their side after knee replacement surgery.

Question 8

my mom has her knee replacement surgery soon. what can i do to help?

Accepted Answer

Be supportive!: Joint replacement surgery is significant surgery with a prolonged, and sometimes arduous, recovery. The best thing you can do to help is be supportive, both emotionally as well as physically. She will need physical assistance upon returning home, and if you can be there to help that will be very beneficial. But she will also have days where she will need your emotional support. Good luck!

Question 9

will a person be able to walk normally after knee replacement surgery?

Accepted Answer

Yes much better: Total knee replacement is made to reduce pain and improve function. Patients walk much better after recovering from a total knee than they did before total knee surgery.  Most walk close to normal or normal once they have fully recovered.

Question 10

what is involved in  knee manipulation after total knee replacement surgery?

Accepted Answer

Bending of the knee : This procedure is usually performed within six weeks of the initial knee replacement surgery.  It is performed under anesthesia either as an out patient or in patient. Post manipulation the patients requires a lot of self physical thereapy as well as structured physical thereapy.

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Doctor answers about:

Hip and knee replacement surgery

A member asked:

How safe is hip and knee replacement surgery?

A member asked:

If one has initial stages of oa in the hip or knee, is it inevitable that hip or knee replacement surgery will happen? how can i avoid it?

A member asked:

What things have to be taken care of for a person wishing for a knee replacement surgery?

A member asked:

What are the risks of total knee replacement surgery?

A member asked:

What is the popping i hear after knee replacement surgery?

A member asked:

What happens to torn ligaments during knee replacement surgery?

A member asked:

How can you sleep on side after total knee replacement surgery?

A member asked:

My mom has her knee replacement surgery soon. what can i do to help?

A member asked:

Will a person be able to walk normally after knee replacement surgery?

A member asked:

What is involved in knee manipulation after total knee replacement surgery?

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