Arthroplasty: know the benefits of knee replacement

In patients with osteoarthritis, one of the main treatments is arthroplasty or knee replacement.

Benefits of knee replacement

Arthroplasty, the cartilage surface with the femur, tibia and patella are replaced by prostheses made of metal alloys: titanium-chromium - cobalt. In patients allergic materials are used as the Oxinium. a plastic spacer is inserted between the metal components to create a smooth sliding surface.

With this type of design a movement of the prosthesis is achieved and uniform with minimal wear. Therefore, there are multiple benefits of knee replacement: 

• The average survival or the time it takes to loosen any component is 20 years in 95% of patients undergoing surgery. 
• The average mobility of the knee with the implanted prosthesis comprising from 0 ° to 125 °.  
• Pain relief is guaranteed and the level of activity improved significantly. 
• T he patient can walk, swimming, cycling, golf, driving, some hiking, ballroom dancing, climbing stairs without problems, participate in low - impact sports.

Postoperative knee prosthesis

The average stay in clinic after arthroplasty is between two and five days. The day after surgery, the patient initiates exercise such as bending and stretching exercises quadriceps strengthening; and the full support of the operated limb, as directed by the Department of Rehabilitation.

Patients are taught to walk with two crutches and up and down stairs. Subsequently, discharge, will require assisted rehabilitation at home or rehabilitation center. From six weeks after surgery, the patient can drive, swim and go cycling along flat terrain.

Review of the knee prosthesis

There are some causes of failure of total knee arthroplasty: 

• Loosening of the components of the prosthesis by defective implant them. It may be caused by insufficient or improper fastening position. 
• Instability of the prosthesis by external injury or medial collateral ligament. 
• Alteration of the patellar tendon, patellar, and the extensor apparatus as a whole, which would entail repeated subluxation or dislocation. 
• Infection. In only 2% chance, always you are taking the highest aseptic measures. 
• Design prosthesis failure or improper size of any component. 

Should a failure occur arthroplasty, a review of the components may be required, which can be performed in one or two operations, depending on the type of loosening.

For more information, consult a specialist in traumatology .