Knee joint, replacement: surgery, rehabilitation, reviews and consequences

The largest joint in the human body is the knee. Violation of his work is accompanied by severe pain. In some cases, problems with the knee joint can lead to loss of ability to work. Return to normal life in the occurrence of such a disease will help endoprosthetics. This is the name for the operation to replace the joint with an artificial implant.

What are the indications of

There is such a surgical intervention, of course, only in the most extreme case, if it is not possible to achieve improvement by other methods. Usually artificial joint implantation is performed with:

• bone dysplasia;

• strong knee deformation;

• necrosis avascular;

• osteoarthritis;

• hemophilia;

• gout.

Very often, the indication for endoprosthetics is old age. The fact is that throughout the life of a person's feet are subjected to constant significant loads. Therefore, the knee joint wears out. Replacement of it is very often necessary in connection with the development of arthrosis.

Response of a patient who underwent an operation to replace a knee joint in Artusmed

Types of prosthetics

Depending on the degree of joint damage during surgery, the following can be done:

• Installation of a single-sided sliding prosthesis. This procedure is indicated if only the lower or upper part of the joint is damaged.

• Implantation of the rotary prosthesis. Such an operation is assigned when a patient has instability of ligaments. The rotary prosthesis is fixed using a special heavy-duty polymer cement.

• Installation of a surface replacement. A prosthesis of this variety is implanted instead of articular cartilage in case it is damaged.

• Installing the articulated prosthesis. The patient is implanted with a special design, made in the form of an axis.

  

The type of the prosthesis chosen will largely depend on the answer to the question of how much replacement of the knee joint is worth. Of course, the installation of a unilateral implant will be cheaper than, for example, a hinged version. In some cases, the replacement of the joint can be performed using specialized prostheses, manufactured individually according to the laboratory tests and measurements.

How to prepare for operation

Endoprosthetics is a fairly responsible and complex procedure. The patient must undergo a full medical examination. First it is taken by a doctor. Especially carefully the expert examines, certainly, a knee joint. Replacement of it in any case - quite serious interference in the body. Therefore, preparation for this procedure must be done very carefully. After the examination, the patient takes all necessary tests. In case of an unforeseen situation, many patients also become donors for themselves. That is, they donate blood, which may be needed during the operation.

Compulsory procedure in the preparatory period, and a general correction of the body. In addition, the patient goes to the dentist. The fact is that bacteria living in the mouth can get into the blood and weaken the body before the operation. And this can lead to all sorts of complications.

During the examination, the doctor necessarily asks the patient about all medications taken by him. The fact is that some drugs can cause bleeding during surgery. In addition, patients are sometimes advised to get rid of excess weight and quit smoking.

Contraindications

Of course, prosthetic knee joints can not be used by all patients. Contraindications in this case there are such:

• considerable excess weight;

• some kinds of chronic somatic diseases;

• some mental illness;

• liver disease;

• malignant tumors.

How the operation is performed

Actually, the very technique of endoprosthetics is as follows:

• The patient is anesthetized.

• A worn joint or part of it is removed with the help of special medical tools.

• The prosthesis is being installed.

Two hours - about as long as required by specialists in order to supply an artificial knee joint. The replacement lasts quite a long time, because the surgeon needs to be as accurate and slow as possible, to remove bone tissue by pieces. After the end of the operation, the patient is placed in the intensive care unit. Here the patient should be before the withdrawal from anesthesia. All this time he remains under the supervision of doctors. If no complications are observed, the patient is transferred to a general ward.

Infection is one of the problems that can occur after the knee replacement is performed. After surgery, to avoid this, the patient is discharged with antibiotics. On the second day, the physiotherapist is prescribed physiotherapy. Performing simple exercises, the patient can significantly accelerate his rehabilitation.

Postoperative period

The patient's home is usually discharged on the 7-14th day. The process of further rehabilitation takes about 10 weeks. If the patient's work is not related to physical activity, he can return to it in a month. It is already possible to get behind the wheel of the car about 4-6 weeks after endoprosthetics. In the event that the operation to replace the knee joint was successful and the patient feels normal, no special measures for recovery can be taken. However, some recommendations of the doctor must still be observed:

• The leg should not be overloaded in any case. Otherwise, the prosthesis can be damaged and will have to be changed again. A repetitive operation is usually more difficult than the first.

• Do not engage in active sports.

• You need to reconsider your diet. Food in the rehabilitation period should be as balanced as possible.

• Rehabilitation after the replacement of the knee joint includes, among other things, the implementation of restorative exercises at home.

Some time after the operation, patients experience unpleasant sensations in the knee. Therefore, they are prescribed painkillers, which must be taken.

Cost of operation

How much does it take to get a new artificial knee joint? Replacing this part of the body is a procedure, of course, expensive. First of all, the price is affected by the complexity of the operation itself. Also the cost of prosthetics depends on the type of prosthesis used. Of course, you do not need to save on such an important element. Modern knee prostheses can be made of different materials: special medical alloys, polymers, ceramics. The last option is the most durable. The ceramic joint can last up to 20 years. Ordinary dentures have to be changed after 10-15 years.

For the implant itself it is necessary to pay about 140-150 thousand rubles. About 350-400 thousand rubles.- approximately so much there is in Russia replacement of a knee joint. The price of endoprosthetics abroad, of course, is much higher. For example, in Israel, the cost of such an operation starts from $ 25,000.

Replacement of the knee joint: patients feedback

Some people do not believe very much in the possibilities of modern medicine and are afraid to undergo such a procedure as arthroplasty of the joint. And so they are looking for feedback from those users who still decided to go to the operating table. In most cases, people with artificial joints do endoprosthetics advise. And, according to the majority, to pull with the operation should not be. If the doctor recommends it, you should start collecting money.

Regarding the location of the operation, most former patients respond well not only to foreign clinics, but also to our Russian clinics. The web has flattering posts about Novosibirsk, Moscow, Kurgan, etc. surgeons. Postoperative care, the state of the wards, feeding in Russian hospitals - all this in most cases, according to patients, is at the proper level. According to many, the main drawback of carrying out such a procedure as knee replacement is price. Of course, 350 thousand rubles for many who need such prosthetics, this is a lot.

How to get a referral for an operation

Of course, only a doctor can make a conclusion about the necessity of carrying out the procedure of endoprosthetics. Such operations are not carried out in all cities of the country. The patient chooses the clinic independently. The attending physician only writes the direction. Of course, to reduce costs, it is worth choosing a hospital closer to home. But you can read reviews about certain medical institutions and give preference to the best.

What problems can occur after the replacement of the knee joint

If the patient will follow all the recommendations of the attending physician, most likely, after the operation he will not have any complications. But sometimes problems do arise. As already mentioned, most patients who have undergone the endoprosthesis procedure face such troubles as:

1. The onset of an infectious process that can be acute or chronic. To alleviate or stop its development can be through antibiotics. Most often this problem occurs in people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and taking hormonal drugs. In some cases, the development of infection can be stopped only after removal of the implanted joint.

2. Blood clots formation. This is a very serious complication, dangerous for the life of a patient who has undergone such a procedure as knee replacement. Rehabilitation of patients is therefore accompanied by a reception including anticoagulants. Drink them should be 2-3 weeks after prosthetics without fail. Closure of the clot can lead to a heart attack or thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery.

Of course, there is( albeit insignificant) risk of rejection of the prosthesis. Also, sometimes after surgery, patients are confronted with a problem such as a detachment of the patellar ligament.

Endoprosthetics - the opportunity to return to normal

The first operation to replace the knee joint with a prosthesis was made in the middle of the last century. At first complications in patients were observed quite often. However, in our time, arthroplasty in most clinics is a familiar operation and its technology, as well as methods of postoperative rehabilitation are worked out to the smallest detail. Therefore, complications in patients are extremely rare. So do not be afraid to stay on the operating table.