Total knee replacement surgery (TKR) is considered a very successful operation. Despite the overall success of the surgery, there are many things you should know about TKR surgery. Here are some commonly asked questions that may help you learn more about the procedure and its risks and benefits:

Who is a good candidate for TKR?
Total knee replacement surgery is good solution for patients with debilitating knee pain for a variety of reasons. The most common reason is osteoarthritis, but many patients have knee replacements for other types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis or other reasons such as avascular necrosis. The overwhelming indication for joint replacment surgery is pain. If the pain in your knee is limiting your daily activities and impacting your quality of life, you may be a good candidate for a total knee replacement.

What are my chances of having a good outcome from TKR?
Approximately 90% of people who undergo TKR report good or excellent results from their surgery.

What are the risks of surgery?
All surgery has risks involved, including TKR. The following is a list of the most common risks:

Risk of Anesthesia: undergoing anesthesia is much less risky than it used to be. Now days most of the risk depends on your overall health. Patients with heart or lung disease for example may have a slightly higher risk of adverse events during surgery than other people. To minimize the risk we ask you to undergo preadmission testing so that we can be aware of any potential issues and address them ahead of time. We may also ask for pre-operative medical clearance from your primary care physician, or possibly from your cardiologist. Regional anesthetic also lowers your risk.

Infection: developing an infection in your new total joint is a potentially devastating problem. The rate of infection is currently less than 1%. We do everything we can to keep that risk even lower, including giving you antibiotics before and after the procedure and wearing special hoods to minimize the amount of bacteria in the room. If you have an infection prior to the surgery, such as a tooth abcess or urinary tract infection, it may be prudent to delay the surgery until the infection has been adequately treated.
Once you have a had a hip or knee replacement, you will need to take antibiotics whenever you have a dental procedure (even a cleaning) or other invasive procedures such as a colonoscopy.

Blood Clots: Developing a blood clot in the leg can occur after any orthopaedic procedure. Patients are placed on a blood thinner after surgery to decrease that risk.

How long will my knee replacement last?
A knee replacement can be expected to last 10-20 years. Knees wear out for many reasons including patient activity level, patient size, and the quality of the materials use.

What is the recovery time for TKR?
Recovery is approximately six to twelve weeks. Every patient is different and recovers at their own pace. Most are back to daily activities in less than six weeks, but demanding activities will require a little longer rehabilitation. You will work with a physical therapist to get your strength and mobility back. Don't worry about comparing yourself to other replacement patients. You will recover in your own time.

When can I drive?
If you had your right knee replaced, you may drive at 6 weeks after surgery. If you had your left knee replaced, you may drive as soon as your are no longer taking narcotic pain medications.

What are my limitations after TKR?
Once you have fully recovered you may do almost any activity except running or jogging. If there are specific activities you do, ask Dr. Williams about them.

Does Dr. Williams perform Minimally Invasive Surgery?
Yes. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) involves smaller incisions and less damage to the soft tissues. There is a lot of debate in the orthopaedic community about whether MIS lives up to its hype, but most patients do seem to recover a little faster. MIS in combination with advanced anaesthesia techniques does seem to make the experience more pleasant for most patients.

For more information on TKR, contact Dr. Williams for an appointment.

To see an excellent interactive demonstration on how a knee replacement is performed, click here.