What is Knee Replacement ?
Knee replacement is a surgical procedure in which the damaged part of the knee is replaced with an artificial implant. The ultimate goal is to reduce pain, improve knee function, and allow patients to return to daily activities more comfortably. Total Knee Replacement is usually recommended for people who have significant knee cartilage damage (Osteoarthritis), serious injuries to the knee such as fractures, and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
People who require knee replacement surgery usually have problems walking, climbing stairs and getting up from chairs. If only one part of the knee is damaged, the surgeon will only replace that part. If the entire joint needs to be replaced, the ends of the femur and tibia are reshaped and the entire joint is resurfaced.
When a person reaches a condition where he has difficulty bending or straightening the knee, experiences pain when walking or sleeping, joint replacement with an artificial implant is the recommended option. This solution is not only given to elderly people, but also to people who have experienced knee injuries and caused imperfect joints. So, if the joints are damaged or unable to support the body, a joint replacement is needed, called Knee Replacement .
Preoperative Knee Replacement Process
Before undergoing a knee joint replacement procedure, the patient will first undergo non-surgical therapy. This therapy can take the form of administering drugs, joint injections, or using a brace to support the patient in activities using the knee. It should be noted that joint cartilage cannot naturally repair itself through existing drug and physical therapies. If non-surgical therapy is not effective in relieving pain and treating problems that hinder daily activities, patients can consider undergoing knee joint replacement surgery or Total Knee Replacement . Patients must be given an understanding of the surgical procedures that have been carried out, the potential benefits, and expectations of the recovery process.
Operating Procedures
- During surgery, the damaged joint will be scraped and removed in stages to clean the joint so that it is ready to be given a new implant to replace the original joint.
- The doctor will implant titanium implants and polyethylene bearings. This aims to relieve pain and restore function to the knee joint, allowing the patient to use his knee as usual.
Postoperative Knee Replacement Care
The rehabilitation program after knee joint replacement surgery ( Knee Replacement ) has the main goal of helping patients recover optimally, restoring knee strength, flexibility and mobility, as well as improving overall quality of life. The following are the treatment efforts included in the rehabilitation program after knee joint replacement surgery:
1. Pain management : Providing pain medication by providing pain medication settings according to the patient's needs to reduce discomfort during the recovery process.
2. Physiotherapy :
Physiotherapy treatment includes several things such as:
- Active and passive exercises : Involves exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knees, increase flexibility, and improve posture.
- Balance training : Helps patients develop balance and stability of the body.
- Standing and walking exercises : This is an important step in recovery to restore the ability to stand and walk.
3. Wound care maintenance : Involves cleaning and caring for surgical wounds to prevent infection.
4. Use of assistive devices : Ensure that the patient can use assistive devices such as a cane or walker correctly to support their mobility.
5. Psychological support : Provide psychological support services to help patients deal with stress and emotional discomfort that may arise during recovery.
A series of pre- and post-operative procedures for Knee Replacement or knee joint replacement must be tailored to the individual needs of each patient. Collaboration between the patient, family, and medical care team is essential to achieve optimal results in post-operative recovery.
Article written by dr. Imelda Lumban Gaol, Sp.OT (K) Hip & Knee (Specialist in Orthopedics & Traumatology, Hip & Knee Consultant at EMC Sentul Hospital).