The knee joint is the biggest in the human body, connecting the thigh-bone or femur to the Tibia or shin-bone in the lower leg. The knee joint is a hinge-type synovial joint and one of the most complex joints in the body. It is a network of ligaments and muscles that keeps the body sturdy while standing or moving around. The most important components of the knee joint are the Meniscus and other ligaments like PCL, ACL, MCL, and LCL.
Knee Replacement is the most commonly performed joint replacement surgery in the world. The need for knee replacement arises from the severe and irreversible damage to the two joint surfaces of the knee.
Our doctors will advise a total knee replacement when the knee joint is completely destroyed. Recently, there has been a significant advancement in surgical procedures for patients with joint surface damage. This means that it is now possible for patients to undergo a specialised surgery known as "unicondylar knee replacement" when only one of the two joint surfaces is affected. This groundbreaking procedure offers a promising solution for patients, allowing them to avoid the need for a total joint replacement.
At Sri Balaji Hospital, we minimise the time spent in bed and ensure the patient starts walking with support within 24 hours of the surgery. Once that is achieved, there is no limit to how much the patient can/should walk after that. In fact, we encourage our patients to walk more frequently and for longer periods and ensure our patients are comfortable climbing up and down the staircase within 21 days of the surgery.
Recent breakthroughs in pain relief, such as the protocols used in Sri Balaji Hospital, ensure the patient has a very comfortable and low-pain post-operative period without depending on painkillers.
Given that the aforementioned points are achieved at Sri Balaji Hospital, the hospital stay post-knee replacement duration is also minimised. Over the last 500 joint surgeries performed at Sri Balaji Hospital, the average duration of stay (before pain-free discharge) has been between 3 and 4 days.
Our doctors will perform an initial assessment of the painful knee joint, followed by an X-ray for further assessment. On rare occasions, they may recommend an MRI or CT image examination of the joint.
Having assessed the patient thoroughly (the joint and the general condition of the individual), if the need for surgery has been decided, the patient will undergo some tests to confirm that the patient is indeed in good health to benefit from this surgery. These tests include (but are not limited to):
Sri Balaji Hospital is one of the foremost medical centres for knee replacement surgery in Chennai. Our doctors perform all knee replacement surgeries under regional anaesthesia. This means while the patient is completely pain-free throughout the surgery, they will always be conscious and oriented. This helps minimise risks associated with general anaesthesia while enjoying the benefits of a pain-free surgical experience.
During the procedure, the damaged/worn-out portion of the joint is replaced with a personalised prosthesis designed to resemble the measurements of the patient's natural joint itself. The prosthesis may be of the following material:
The patient may be put on the following types of medication at the time of discharge:
The patient will be ready for suture (stitch) removal by the 14th day. Between the date of discharge and suture removal, the patient may require one or two dressings. If desired, these dressings, including suture removal, can be effortlessly carried out in the comfort of your own home.
Here, at Sri Balaji Hospital, we strive for the very best results & hence, on average, most of our patients walk pain-free without external support by the third or fourth week.
Hence, our patients can resume their office duties and daily routines by the third week. They can enjoy long walks outside their homes and visit parks, malls, beaches and places of worship. Patients are also encouraged to climb up & down staircases to improve their mobility.
By this time, the patient is now completely pain-free. They can enjoy their body’s peak performance, including pain-free climbing up/ down the staircase numerous times per day. They can also resume strenuous activities like swimming, cycling, and running.
After the 6th week, the patient requires only two more visits to the doctor:
