Knee replacement, also known as knee aplasty
, is a surgical procedure to replace the weight-bearing surfaces of the
knee joint to relieve pain and disability. It is most commonly performed
for osteoarthritis,[1] and
also for other knee diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriaticarthritis. In patients with severe deformity from advanced rheumatoid arthritis,
trauma, or long-standing osteoarthritis, the surgery may be more complicated
and carry higher risk. Osteoporosis does not typically cause knee
pain, deformity, or inflammation and is not a reason to perform knee
replacement
Other
major causes of debilitating pain include meniscus tears, cartilage defects,
and ligament tears. Debilitating pain from osteoarthritis is much more common
in the elderly.
Knee
replacement surgery can be performed as a partial or a total knee replacement.[2] In
general, the surgery consists of replacing the diseased or damaged joint
surfaces of the knee with metal and plastic components shaped to allow
continued motion of the knee.
The
operation typically involves substantial postoperative pain, and includes
vigorous physical rehabilitation. The recovery period may be 6 weeks or longer
and may involve the use of mobility aids (e.g. walking frames, canes, crutches)
to enable the patient's return to preoperative mobility.[3]
No comments:
Post a Comment