Knee replacement also called knee arthroplasty in medical terms is a surgical procedure to replace the knee damaged by arthritis or due to any other functional issues with the knee. The knee is the largest bone connecting the thigh(femur) to the shin bone(tibia). The knee is the essential bone in the human body which is helpful for all the physical activities you do such as sitting, standing, walking, and running providing balance and flexibility.

The knee joint comprises many components such as cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. When these components are damaged or prone to an issue the knee joint is also damaged in severe cases knee replacement surgery is recommended i.e, when the medications, physical exercises, and lifestyle modifications fail to provide relief from the severe knee pain the knee replacement surgery is recommended based on your medical condition.

Reasons for undergoing knee replacement surgery:

While knee replacement surgery is done due to a variety of causes such as arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, knee injury, increased age, issues within the ligament, or due to obesity also this may be done. Let's explore a  few common reasons to undergo a  knee replacement surgery:

1)Osteoarthritis:

Cartilage which is present in end of every bone wears leading to intense pain and a reduced movement which is called osteoarthritis. Due to the damaged cartilage and pain in severe cases movement of the legs is hard for the person heading to a knee replacement surgery.

2)Rheumatoid arthritis:

It is an autoimmune disorder in which the body cells attack its tissues including the joints resulting in painful swelling, and inflammation, in severe cases also causes bone deformities so knee replacement may be necessary in highly severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis.

3)Injuries such as fractures, and ligament tears can disturb bone function and in severe cases when the knee bone, cartilage, and ligaments are damaged due to fractures or injuries knee replacement surgery is recommended.

4)Structural abnormalities in the alignment of the knee joint and ligament injuries can also be a cause for knee replacement surgery.

5)Increased age increases knee pain in a few elderly people,  in a few cases obesity can put pressure on the knee joints, and previous heavy injuries on the knee can also cause knee problems resulting in knee replacement surgery.

6) A few activities put a heavy burden on knees such as weight lifting, squatting, and kneeling can increase the chance of joint degeneration leading to a knee replacement surgery.

Types of knee replacements:

a)Total knee replacement:

In the process of total knee replacement surgery, all the parts around the knee joint are replaced.

b)Partial knee replacement:

In the partial knee replacement process only partial or a few areas of the knee joint area that are damaged are replaced. This is done to the people who went through an injury, accident, or fracture.

The process of knee replacement involves:

1)It is the first and foremost step in knee replacement surgery and involves tests such as x-rays, and MRIs of the knee to understand the severity before undergoing the surgery.

2)Anesthesia is given to patients for a pain-free surgical process. Different anesthesia is given for different types of pain, while surgery anesthesia is given to reduce pain during procedures such as surgery, biopsy, or tissue removal.

3)Diving into the main process of knee replacement the surgeon will remove the damaged cartilage and bone in the first step and then insert the prosthetic knee joint which stimulates the normal knee function the knee comprising artificial substance is implanted in that place then the incision is closed using sutures.

4)For recovery pain relief medication and physiotherapy are given to the patient to strengthen the muscles and increase the movement in the knees.

Knee replacement is a transformative process that brings hope to patients who have chronic knee pain that makes their bones impossible or hard to move. Knee replacement surgery involves both complications and relieving practices. The proper guidance of the orthopedic surgeon is highly essential for undergoing knee replacement surgery. If you are someone willing to undergo a knee replacement surgery click here for India's best orthopedic doctor's advice.