With the vast development in all branches of science and technology, the life span of individuals has increased. Along with age, body wear and tear is common. With the latest innovations, organ and tissue replacements have become very frequent.
In simple words, Arthroplasty is knee replacement surgery. The cause of Arthroplasty is a degenerative joint disease resulting in the loss of cartilage or cushion in the knee joint.
There’s no particular age to undergo knee replacement surgery. If you find sitting, walking or working difficult with severe knee pain, the surgeon may recommend knee replacement. Usually, the most common age is between the ages of 50 to 70. Some people undergo total knee arthroplasty as young as 50, such as athletes.
As Arthroplasty is a pre-planned surgery, the patient is given time to prepare themselves mentally so that during the surgery they don’t panic. Depending on the patient’s condition, the surgeons decide when you can undergo surgery.
Preparations:
- Pre-surgery exercises:One should practise prescribed exercises by a physiotherapist before surgery. So it would be easy for the patient post-surgery.
- Pre-surgical tests for knee replacement:Pre-operative tests are scheduled within 30 days of surgery. Your tests include a physical examination, blood tests, stress test, chest x-ray and urine sample.
- Medication before the surgery:The surgeons prescribe iron supplements, as it’s common to lose some blood during surgery. Taking iron supplements before surgery helps to increase your blood and reduce the need for blood transfusions.
- Pre-operative weight management:Additional weight can increase the risk of infections with added complications. Reduced calories, keeping hydrated, maintaining proper diet timings.
- Adjustments in medications:Suppose you are taking blood thinners for other health issues, they have to be stopped. The doctor who prescribed those medications should be consulted. You should only follow the prescribed medications by the surgeon.
- Regular illness reports:Sometimes you get trauma illness due to pre-surgery stress or other illness such as cold or fever. You should get regular tests done and seek your surgeon’s advice.
- Be open with medical history:You should also consult your doctors for other medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart-related issues. Even if you’re taking homoeopathy medicines that also have to be mentioned, you need to consult those doctors and inform them about your surgery. So they can make sure that your health condition is good for surgery.
- Decreasing tobacco use:Patients who use tobacco or other smoking habits are advised to cut down even post-surgery for several months, as nicotine hampers the healing and increases the risk of post-surgical infections.
- Scheduled dental care:If you are under any dental treatment, medication should be stopped and follow the streamline of the pre-surgical procedures. Even after post-surgery for up to three months, you should not take any dental treatments, as there is a risk of germs entering the bloodstream through your mouth and infecting the new joint.
Dr Anjani Kumar has successfully performed several total knee arthroplasty surgeries, as the experience speaks about his capability and success rate.
Dr Anjani Kumar is a qualified MBBS, MS orthopaedics surgeon with 20 years of experience. He has performed 2000 knee replacement surgeries, 350 hip replacement surgeries, and 500 pelvic acetabular surgeries successfully. His other specializations are revision surgeries, pelvic acetabular fractures, knee fractures, and ligament injuries. He worked at Vijayawada Govt, General Hospital, and then he worked at St. Johns Medical College, Bengaluru. He is currently working at Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospitals as a Senior Orthopaedic specialist.
Contact:+91 9989112411
Email:anjanikumarkadiri@gmail.com
