Knee Replacement SurgeryIs Total Knee Replacement Surgery Right for You?
Total knee replacement surgery is usually performed on someone with severe arthritis. Generally, total knee replacements are for people who:
What is Total Knee Replacement Surgery?
It is a surgical procedure for replacing the knee joint. Two parts make up the knee joint, the bottom of the femur bone and the top of the tibia.
During the surgical procedure, the arthritic surface of the femur, tibia, and undersurface of the patella are removed. These surfaces are replaced by smooth artificial surfaces. The femoral implant is made of strong metal and the tibial and patellar pieces are made of high density plastic. These implants are usually affixed with a bone cement. What to Expect After Total Knee Replacement Surgery
For those people who are candidates for total knee replacement, surgery will provide pain relief in approximately 90% of the patients. It allows the patient to carry out normal daily activities, and some may return to sports and hard labor. Most patients with stiff knees will regain almost normal range of motion and nearly all will have some improvement of motion.
Goals of Your Surgery
During Your Hospital Stay
Your Team Members
You will have contact with your nurse(s) several times a day. Her responsibilities include the following:
Your Physical Therapist(PT), along with your Occupational Therapist(OT), will evaluate your functional abilities and set forth a plan to accomplish specific goals before your discharge. The PT's responsibilities include the following:
Your Occupational Therapist(OT) is responsible for the following:
Your Social Worker is responsible for the following:
How Much Weight Can I Put on My Surgery Leg?
Your surgeon will let you know how much weight you can put on your new knee. This is referred to as your "Weight Bearing Status". Do not put more weight on your
new knee than your surgeon has ordered. These are the most commonly used terms:
Non-weight bearing: No weight should be placed on your operated leg.
Your weight-bearing status is more safely maintained with the use of your walker or crutches.
Remember, your weight bearing status is determined by your surgeon and should be strictly followed.
Your surgeon may have your wear a knee immobilizer immediately after surgery. It's a soft brace that keeps your leg in a straightened position. Do not walk without the knee immobilizer on unless you weren't given one. It helps to support your knee until your muscle strength increases. It's usually only worn for a short period of time. CPM Device
A CPM (Continous Passive Motion) device may be prescribed by your doctor immediately following knee replacement surgey. A CPM is a treatment method designed to assist with your recovery after knee surgery. After surgery, most patients experience pain and stiffness in their new joint and fail to move their knee. This lack of movement allows the tissue around the joint to become stiff, and scar tissue forms, resulting in a joint which has limited range of motion. It can then take months of physical therapy to recover that motion. In rare cases, another surgery is required to remove excessive scar tissue that has formed due to lack of knee movement on the patient's part.
The CPM will be set up by your physical therapist after receiving orders from your surgeon. Your surgeon will prescribe parameters for your CPM use: speed, duration of usage, range of motion, rate of increase of motion.
The CPM is placed on your bed and your surgery leg is placed in/on the CPM. Once turned on, the CPM moves in a continuous motion that passively bends and straightens your knee. The number of hours that you spend in the CPM each day often depends on how well you're progressing with your knee range of motion. Each day your physical therapist will adjust your CPM to increase flexion. Your goal is to reach at least 90 degrees of flexion and full extension.
Full knee extension is just as important a goal as knee flexion. If you aren't able to reach full knee extension, there's a high probability that you will end up walking with a limp, even after the knee has fully healed. DO NOT sleep or lie on your back with a pillow under your knee. Instead, place a pillow under your calf so that your ankle is elevated and your knee remains straight. If you sleep on your side, put a pillow between your knees for comfort. To help increase your knee extension, lie on your back and place a rolled up towel under your heel. Press your knee down toward the bed to stretch the back of your knee. Keep the towel roll under your heel for as long as you can tolerate it.
It takes a full committment and active participation by you to reach a successful outcome after surgery. Work hard and you'll return to an active, independent lifestyle.
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