The main benefit of any kind of joint
replacement, including knee replacement, is relief from
pain. Total knee replacement will remove the pain of an
arthritic knee joint and should allow the patient to return
to most of the normal activities of daily life and work.
Modern knee replacement devices, including unicondylar and
mobile bearing knees, will even allow younger patients to
resume an active lifestyle, with some sporting activities
possible. As with any joint replacement procedure, knee
replacement is a major operation, and some complications may
be possible following the operation. These are typically not
related directly to the knee implant, but can include
infections and blood clots. Occasionally, infected implants
have to be removed, the infection treated, and the
replacement surgery repeated at a later date.
Activity Levels and Long-term Results of
Knee Replacement
It has been shown that knee replacements
work as well as hip replacements, at least in the typically
older patient population with up to 90% of implants still
functioning at ten years or more. The recent challenge
facing implant manufacturers has been to extend this success
to the younger, higher demand patient. Such patients may
have activity levels 20-30 times higher than the more
elderly.
Should I have a Knee Replacement?
Your Orthopaedic Surgeon can advise you
whether you are suitable for knee replacement and what
treatment options are available to you. Knee replacement is
an elective operation – the decision to have such an
operation is made by you, the patient. Both hip and knee
replacement procedures are commonplace and very successful
in providing pain relief and a return to relatively normal
activity levels. The more you find out about knee
replacement treatments, the better informed will be your
decision about whether to have such surgery.
Summary
There are a number of treatment options
available for patients with severe disease of the knee
joint. Not all of these options are suitable for all
patients. An Orthopaedic Surgeon is the only person who can
advise you which treatment options might be suitable in your
case. Not all surgeons offer all treatment options, so it is
important to ask to be referred to a surgeon who offers the
treatment options you wish to consider. Knee replacement is
a very successful procedure and is carried out on hundreds
of thousands of patients around the world every year.
