Knee Replacement Surgery, Step-by-Step Description
Knee replacement surgical techniques vary based on the demands of the patient and the surgeon’s approach, but the processes are typically as follows:
- The patient’s physiological signals are evaluated to ensure that blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and oxygenation levels are all within normal limits before the operation begins. On the knee that is receiving surgery, a mark is created.
- The anaesthesia staff may recommend peripheral nerve blocks to help with early postoperative pain management while enabling muscles to function normally during physical therapy. The knee replacement technique involves injecting numbing medicine into a section of the femoral nerve under ultrasound needle guidance for safe and successful insertion. These operations may be carried out both before and after surgery. They may also comprise a one-time injection lasting 24 to 36 hours or the insertion of a catheter for many days of infusions.
- Anesthesia is given to the patient.
#A general anaesthetic may be administered to the patient (be put to sleep)
#A spinal nerve block and a relaxant are used to inhibit feeling from the waist down.
The kind of anaesthetic a patient gets is normally selected ahead of time, although it may be changed on the day of surgery after a conversation with the anesthesiologist.
4. The surgeon makes an 8 to 10-inch long incision in the middle of the knee, then cuts through deeper tissue, including the quadriceps tendon, and flips the kneecap over to get access to the femur and tibia. (The physician will make smaller incisions and employ minimally invasive surgical procedures if undertaking minimally invasive knee replacement.)
5. The knee is flexed to 90 degrees to provide the surgeon easier access to the joint.
6.The surgeon removes the arthritically damaged portions at the bottom of the femur and the top of the tibia using a bone saw. Each bone is moulded to match its new prosthesis perfectly. The surgeon uses a metal jig or computer aid to line up the cuts since they must be accurate.
7.A surgeon may rebuild the patella, or rear of the kneecap, and transplant it. To aid the patella’s gliding against the new joint, a polyethylene component may be inserted. Patients who had patella resurfacing compared to those who did not did not have a significant difference in results, according to research. 1,2 pieces are all connected with femur, tibia, and, if appropriate, the patella . These components are usually attached using fast-drying bone cement. There are also cementless components that enable bone tissue to develop on them and attach over time.
8.On top of the new tibia surfaces, a flexible cushion, commonly composed of polyethylene, is applied. Between the two new prosthetic surfaces, this spacer works as a stress absorber.
9.To check the fit of the components and the range of motion of the replacement knee, the leg is bent and stretched.
10.To let the components, cement, and bone to bind together, the surgeon straightens the knee.
11.The surgeon will sew the skin near the incision and heal any deep tissue that was injured during surgery.
A patient may be transported to a recovery room for a few hours after surgery to allow the surgical anaesthetic to wear off. A physical therapist will examine the patient thereafter, and if suitable, the patient may be released home the same day of surgery. If the patient is not judged safe to leave the hospital on the day of surgery, he or she will be placed to a hospital room and will stay for 1 to 2 days before being released.
