Knee Replacement Surgery: Types, Procedure, Risks, Recovery, and Cost

Constant knee pain, swelling, and stiffness in the knee region can be some reasons that may lead you to knee replacement surgery. If you are suffering from any kind of arthritis, then knee replacement surgery can be the best option for you to heal your damaged knee permanently. For this purpose, taking a proper diagnosis from an expert is a must.

This informative blog will help you know more about the prerequisites associated with knee replacement surgery like the need of surgery, symptoms leading to surgery, types of knee replacement, surgery procedure, risks, recovery, and costs. Thus, helping you know more about knee arthroplasty, and getting you closer to take the decision regarding the surgical process.

What is Knee Replacement Surgery?

Knee Arthroplasty or knee replacement surgery is a medical procedure carried out to heal the damaged portion of the knee with artificial implants. It is typically conducted to heal chronic knee pain and swelling which arises in patients due to severe arthritis or joint damage. Thus, it helps people to restore their mobility, reduce knee pain, and lead their lives. Although there are several risks associated with this surgery, one can reduce the chances of risks by taking proper care, a doctor’s consultation, and following the necessary routine during the recovery phase.

Why is Knee Replacement Surgery Performed?

Knee replacement surgery is not performed immediately after observing symptoms like stiffness or severe knee pain while performing regular activities like walking, climbing stairs, running, or performing daily chores. It is usually the last option when medical treatment, physical therapy, or injections don’t heal the chronic knee pain faced by the patient. Some of the most common reasons for knee replacement are arthritis, osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. In such cases, the damaged part of the knee is removed and replaced with artificial implants, thus helping the patient to move freely and perform daily activities with ease. In this manner, a knee replacement helps people with their lives and helps them to get a permanent cure from knee issues.

Different Types of Knee Replacement Surgery

Like a few other types of surgeries, knee replacement surgery is divided into two categories. These are called total knee replacement (TKR) and partial knee replacement (PKR). The following is some more data about these two types of surgeries:

1. Total Knee Replacement (TKR):

In this process, the entire knee joint is replaced with artificial components i.e. implants. It is performed in case of severe arthritis or significant joint damage which affects the entire knee. This surgery will help the patient to get a completely new knee joint, making it better for the walking and daily tasks.

2. Partial Knee Replacement (PKR):

In this process, only the damaged or partial knee joint is replaced with the artificial components. It is suitable for patients with issues like localized arthritis or damage in one specific part of their knee. Thus, it helps to preserve the healthy bone and muscle tissues in the rest of the safe knee joint.

These two procedures will be recommended to you by the surgeon. And, as per the diagnosis, he will perform TKR or PKR, and help you to enable you to continue your daily chores after the surgery. You can find the best doctors to perform knee replacement surgery in India on MeddiTour. It is the best platform that provides you access to doctors in India, making your treatment much easier.

Symptoms Leading to Knee Replacement Surgery

You might face several symptoms that will strike you as the need for knee replacement surgery. The following are some of the common symptoms:

Chronic Pain: Constant knee pain that doesn’t respond to medication and rest.
Stiffness: Reduced range of motion in the knee.
Instability: A feeling of knee buckling under pressure.
Non-surgical treatments: When injections or physical therapy fail to provide comfort.
Swelling and Inflammation: Constant swelling and inflammation around the knee area.
Walking difficulties: Finding it difficult to walk or take care of one’s body weight.

All these are the most observed symptoms that may lead you to a knee replacement surgery. If you feel any of these symptoms, taking crucial steps is necessary. A proper diagnosis can help you to manage the conditions more precisely, and in some cases, it may also prevent the need for surgery.

Complete Procedure for Knee Replacement Surgery

The surgical procedure for knee replacement is done like other surgeries, and it involves replacing the damaged knee joint with artificial implants. Firstly, the doctor applies anaesthesia as per the medical conditions of the patient. This helps to numb the lower half of the patient’s body, thus allowing the patient to remain awake. Later, the surgeon makes an incision in the knee joint. The soft tissues surrounding the knee, including the muscles and ligaments, are moved aside to expose the knee joint.

Then, using surgical instruments, the surgeon carefully removes the damaged bone or cartilage and places the new knee parts made of either plastic or metal. These new parts now act as the real ones, and enable the knee to work like before. And lastly, the surgeon ensures proper alignment and positioning of the artificial implants. Once this is done, the incision is closed, and a sterile dressing is applied to protect the surgical site.

In this manner, the entire knee replacement surgery is carried out. Several doctors and hospitals provide the best knee replacement surgery in India, making your treatment easier and errorless. You can contact MeddiTour to get access to the best knee replacement surgeons in the country and save time.

Risks Associated with Knee Replacement Surgery

Like any other surgery, knee replacement surgery also comes with related risks and complications. With technological advancements, the procedure is now much safer, but still, there are some risks that one should be aware of. The following are some of the common ones:

Infection: One of the most common risks after knee replacement surgery is infection. It can occur in the wound or around the artificial implants, antibiotics can help you prevent it.
Nerve Damage: During surgery, nerves around the knees can be damaged, which can lead to numbness, pain, or weakness. It can be either temporary or permanent.
Fracture: bones around the knee can be fractured during the surgery. It can lead to additional surgery or treatment to heal properly, making your knee stronger again.
Allergies: It may occur due to reactions caused by materials used during surgery. It can be caused by metal alloys or polymers, and can be prevented by proper treatment.
Fluid Build-up or Chronic Swelling: Some patients suffer from fluid build-up or chronic swelling around the knee. It can affect their mobility or comfort in the long term.

All these were the various risks involved in knee replacement surgery. However, with the help of the best treatment, you won’t face any difficulties, and the above-mentioned risks will be negligible.

Recovery from the Knee Replacement Surgery

You need to give proper time to recover completely from knee replacement surgery. Hence, good care must be taken during the recovery phase to get well completely. It helps you to minimize the risk of further injuries or complications like blood clots, which increase your recovery time significantly. Moreover, it helps you to improve your mobility and functioning much faster.

If you neglect proper care, it may result in prolonged pain, limitations in daily activities, and stiffness. Thus hindering your movement in your daily life. So, you must do the following activities to regain your knee's functioning efficiently:

Have a nutritious and well-balanced diet
Take good rest
Proper medication
Regular consultation with the doctor
Physical therapy

All these activities will help you improve your recovery rate significantly. And, it will help you to get your strong knees back within two to three months.

Cost Needed for Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee replacement surgery is beneficial; however, knowing the associated cost is also necessary to make the best decision. So, the costs of the surgery vary depending on several factors like the type of surgery, anaesthesia, implant quality, hospital location, surgeon’s fees, and many more. Patients must consult healthcare consultants to get specific cost estimates as per their needs. However, the average cost to get your knee replacement surgery done is rupees 1.25 lakh.

The surgery cost starts from rupees 1 lakh and ranges up to rupees 1.5 lakh. The major factors that influence the cost are hospital fees, surgeon’s fees, and the implant costs. These three major factors can make your surgery cost rise, as the city and hospital infrastructure. So, for this purpose, taking consultation from a good facilitator in India is necessary to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Final Words

That was all the much-needed information about knee replacement surgery. It is one of the most common orthopaedic surgeries, and doctors in India are the best to provide a cure for this treatment. If you want access to all the best hospitals in India, then MeddiTour is the best option for you. It will help you connect with the best knee replacement surgeons across the country, as it also promotes medical tourism in India. Thus, making your surgical journey much faster, easier, and cheaper. MeddiTour is the best medical facilitator in India, and to know more about their services, you can visit their website. It will provide you with the best medical facilities around the world as they are active in countries like Dubai, Singapore, Turkey, Malaysia, Thailand, and many more. So, don’t waste your time, choose the best partner for your medical treatment, take a consultation from Medditour, and make your surgical journey much more a