Knee replacement surgery is a surgical procedure in which part or all of the knee joint is replaced, depending on the extent of joint damage. An orthopedic surgeon specializing in knees removes the worn parts of the natural knee joint and installs an artificial knee joint made of metal and plastic. It is then secured with medical cement or a knee joint with a stem, depending on the patient’s condition.

Knee replacement surgery: What is it and how is it performed?

Knee replacement surgery is one of the most popular and successful orthopedic surgeries due to the tremendous advancement in doctors’ expertise in performing such surgeries and in the types of joints available for treating knee stiffness.

Conditions treated with knee replacement surgery

Your orthopedic surgeon may recommend knee replacement surgery if you have severe symptoms that do not improve after trying non-surgical treatments, including:

Joint pain
Stiffness
Limited mobility (difficulty moving your knee)
Swelling

In rare cases, your orthopedic surgeon may suggest knee replacement surgery if you have had a bone fracture in your knee that has caused joint damage after trauma, such as:

A car accident
A fall
A sports injury

What are the risks of knee replacement surgery?

Like any surgical procedure, knee replacement surgery carries some risks, such as leg clots, wound infection, pain after knee replacement surgery, and sometimes a fracture of the knee joint. In addition, there are complications resulting from anesthesia or sedation, and these complications are usually related to the patient’s overall health.

Knee replacement surgery is considered an advanced orthopedic procedure that must be performed by an excellent, highly skilled orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Ibrahim Mahmoud Abdelmonem Shaarawi has extensive experience in the field of joint treatment, making him the best orthopedic surgeon in Egypt.

Success rate of total knee replacement surgery

The success rate of knee replacement surgery is approximately 95% based on the latest studies published in scientific references that discussed the complications of knee replacement surgery.

Success rate of knee replacement surgery for the elderly

Knee replacement surgery is mainly performed on elderly patients, i.e., those over 60 years of age. Knee replacement surgery is performed in 99% of cases for these elderly patients, and the success rate is 90-95%.

In cases where knee replacement is necessary for younger patients for other reasons, such as the removal of malignant tumors around the knee joint, a genetic problem, or an accident that has led to advanced early roughness of the joint surface, requiring knee replacement at a young age, the success rate of the procedure is the same.

in most cases, the patient will need repeat the operation several times throughout their life because the life expectancy of an artificial knee joint is about 15 years.

What is the alternative to artificial knee replacement surgery?

The first alternative to knee replacement surgery is joint injections with cortisone, a topical substance that reduces inflammation and pain. It is mixed with other anesthetics to help improve knee pain for as long as possible, and the patient may need several injections. The second alternative is limited intervention and pain treatment using thermal frequency by cauterizing the nerves that receive pain sensations from the knee. This is considered a non-surgical method of treating knee stiffness.

In some simple cases, an ointment can also be used to treat knee stiffness, which may provide temporary relief from knee pain.

These alternative solutions only treat the pain but do not address the underlying problem, which is osteoarthritis. However, as mentioned earlier, they are considered a solution for patients who are not medically fit to undergo anesthesia or sedation in the operating room.

Knee replacement surgery is considered and performed in the late stages of knee joint stiffness, so there are not many alternative solutions at this stage, but one of the previous alternatives can be tried in cases where general or regional anesthesia cannot be administered for the operation.

Pain after knee replacement surgery

It is normal to feel pain after knee replacement surgery. This pain improves within a few days after the operation, and the patient will be able to walk on their feet from the morning of the operation if the pain disappears. If the pain returns, it is necessary to consult an orthopedic doctor. It is also very important to consult an orthopedic doctor if the patient improves for a long time and then the pain returns.

After surgery, you will feel pain, especially in the first few weeks of recovery. You will feel pain from the surgery itself and pain as your body begins to heal.

the orthopedic surgeon will suggest a combination of prescription painkillers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (if it is safe to take them), and acetaminophen to relieve the pain. Your surgeon will tell you how much of each type of medication you can take each day or at certain times.

Talk to your orthopedist if you feel you are in too much pain or if you are concerned about any complications from taking pain medication.

When should you consult your orthopedic doctor immediately if you experience pain after knee replacement surgery?

If there is discharge from the wound
If you are unable to put weight on your leg
If there is severe redness around the wound
If you have difficulty breathing
If you are unable to bend your knee at all
If you fall on the joint
Knee replacement failure
Knee replacement failure is rare but possible. The cause of failure may be misdiagnosis, medical error, or failure to follow the rehabilitation protocol.

Total Knee replacement surgery, the complete guide

In this case, there are several solutions, including the use of a long-stemmed revision knee joint to replace the part that will be removed with the removal of the old joint,

or it is possible to perform fixation and cementing of the knee joint, in which case the functional result is less than knee replacement, but there are also fewer complications.

Cost of knee replacement surgery

The cost of knee replacement surgery ranges from 120,000 to 300,000 pounds and varies depending on the type of joint required, which is determined based on the degree and shape of knee joint roughness in the images, the presence of severe joint curvature, and the patient’s weight.

All of this contributes to the cost of knee replacement surgery, which may also vary depending on the hospital where the surgery will be performed. You can discuss all of these questions with your doctor at the orthopedic clinic.

Types of knee replacement surgery

The best joint replacement doctor in Egypt will recommend either a total or partial knee replacement:

Total knee replacement: This is the most common type. The surgeon replaces all three areas of the knee joint—the inner (medial), outer (lateral), and under the kneecap (anterior) areas. .
Partial knee replacement: Only some areas of the knee joint are replaced—usually if only one or two areas are damaged.

How do I prepare for knee replacement surgery?

Your doctor will tell you what you need to do to prepare for surgery. In general, you will need:

A physical exam to make sure you are healthy enough for surgery.
Blood tests.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart.
A dental exam to reduce the risk of infection after surgery.
Imaging tests, including an X-ray of your knee.
Tell your surgeon about any medications and supplements you take. You may need to stop taking some medications or supplements before surgery.

Your surgeon will tell you when to stop eating and drinking the day before your surgery. Most people need to avoid eating and drinking for 8 hours before surgery.

Who is the best knee replacement surgeon?

Dr. Ibrahim Shaarawi is considered the best joint surgeon in Cairo for performing such operations. You can read some patient reviews and success stories here.

Knee replacement surgery to treat knee osteoarthritis is considered an advanced procedure that needs to be performed by the best orthopedic surgeon in a well-equipped hospital to ensure the best results and avoid complications after knee replacement surgery.

What are the steps involved in knee replacement surgery?

On the day of surgery, you will receive anesthesia to numb your body and ensure that you do not feel any pain. The anesthesiologist will give you either general anesthesia to put you to sleep during the surgery or regional anesthesia to numb you from the waist down.

During knee replacement, the joint surgeon will do the following:

Remove damaged cartilage and bone.
Insert an artificial knee joint.
Insert a plastic spacer that recreates the soft cushion of cartilage that has been damaged or removed.
Reshaping the patella (knee cap) to fit the new artificial knee joint (if necessary).
How long does knee replacement surgery take?
Knee replacement surgery usually takes one to two hours.

What happens after knee replacement surgery?

After surgery, you will be taken to the recovery room. The surgical team will monitor you for a few hours to make sure you wake up from anesthesia without complications. They will also monitor your vital signs and pain level.

Some people who have had knee replacement surgery go home the next day. You may need to stay in the hospital overnight. Your knee doctor will tell you when it is safe for you to go home.

How long does an artificial knee joint last?

An artificial knee joint replacement usually lasts a long time. In fact, more than 90% of people who have had knee replacement surgery have excellent knee function for 10 to 15 years.

What are the possible complications of knee replacement surgery?

Some people who have had knee replacement surgery still experience pain and other symptoms in their knees. Rare complications include:

Blood clots.
Infection inside your knee or at the surgery site.
Nerve problems.
Blood vessel problems.
Problems with the artificial implant, including premature wear or loosening of the device.
Scar tissue inside your knee.
Reduced range of motion (how well you can move your knee) and stiffness.

Certain health conditions can make recovery from knee replacement surgery more difficult. Talk to your surgeon about your health history. Tell them if you have:

Hemophilia.
Diabetes.
Other autoimmune disorders (such as lupus).
Your surgeon will tell you what to expect after surgery and how you can reduce your chances of complications.

Recovery after knee replacement surgery

Full recovery usually takes one to three months after knee replacement surgery. However, you should be able to walk shortly after surgery and resume most of your normal activities six weeks after surgery.

Your recovery time will depend on several factors, including:

Your activity level before surgery.
Your age.
Other health conditions.
In general, these instructions should be followed after knee replacement surgery

Ice your knee: Applying ice to your knee several times a day for 20 minutes at a time will help reduce pain and swelling.
Elevate your knee: Keep your knee above the level of your heart as much as possible. You can prop it up on pillows or cushions while lying down or rest it on a footrest if you are sitting in a chair.
Keep your incision clean and covered: Follow your surgeon’s instructions for caring for your incision carefully. Ask your surgeon when to change the dressing on the incision site and when it is safe to shower or bathe.
Home exercises: Your surgeon will give you exercises to do as soon as possible after surgery. They will show you how to perform the movements and exercises to strengthen the muscles around your knee and prevent stiffness.