While now a common procedure, years ago, joint replacement was once considered high-tech.
In the United States alone, surgeons perform the procedure more than a million times each year.
The staggering figure can be attributed to the enhanced mobility and pain relief only hip and knee replacement surgeries can offer.
Undoubtedly, for the right candidates, hip and knee replacement can be a life altering procedure.
However, surgery is not always the treatment option for those who are suffering from hip or knee pain.
Knee Replacement
Oftentimes, the most likely candidates for knee replacement surgery are those patients who are suffering from osteoarthritis.
Understandably, the condition is common in the knees as it bears the weight of the body.
The procedure will be the treatment option resorted to only after all other conventional alternatives have been exhausted.
Just like many major surgical procedures, knee replacement also has certain risks.
Some of the risks include but are not limited to the following:
- Heart attacks
- Stroke
- Infection
- Nerve damage
- Blood clots (in the lungs or leg veins)
The surgery will be performed by an orthopedic surgeon.
Prior to the surgery, physical examination will be performed to assess the stability, strength, and the range of motion of the knee.
Hip Replacement
In essence, hip replacement is the surgical procedure carried out to remove the hip joint’s damaged parts.
If all other conventional treatment alternatives have proved futile, hip replacement surgery becomes the likely option.
Patients with severe osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis are often likely candidates for the procedure.
Extent of the hip replacement however will be based on the severity of the joint damage.
For those individuals with hip fractures due to osteoporosis, hip replacement is also the likely treatment option.
Oftentimes, the most common reason for the procedure can be attributed to damage brought about by arthritis.
Also known as total hip arthroplasty, hip replacement surgery is often considered the best treatment approach when pain has become so severe and it already interferes with the patient’s day-to-day routine.
Preparation
For individuals who are candidates for hip or knee replacement, asking the right questions is deemed an integral part of the preparation.
If you are a candidate for joint replacement, the following questions should make it to your list:
Is surgery the best treatment alternative available for my case?
- Do I have other treatment choices?
- After the surgery, how far can I walk without experiencing any pain?
- Is surgery the best option for someone my age?
- Can I still participate in any sports (i.e. golf, tennis, swimming, etc.) that I enjoy?
What can I do to help ensure the procedure is a resounding success?
- Will I be taught muscle strengthening exercises?
- Is it recommended that I lose weight before the procedure?
- Will it be necessary to learn how to utilize crutches/walker before the surgery?
What home preparations do I need to do?
- Do I have to do any rearranging?
- What are some of the effective ways I can ensure safety at home?
- How much is the extent of help I will be needing?
What are the potential risks and complications of the procedure?
- Will blood transfusion be necessary before or after?
- What can I do to help minimize the risks?
- Which medical conditions (i.e. heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.) have to be monitored?
What is the procedure like?
- How long will the surgery last?
- How soon after the procedure can I commence with my routine activities?
- How long will the hospital stay be?
What preparations am I expected to do the night before the procedure?
- When do I stop eating or drinking?
- What are the essentials I need to bring?
- Are there medications I am supposed to take prior to the procedure?
Joint replacement is not the ideal treatment option for everyone. To know if it is appropriate for your case, visit www.bjios.sg right away.
