Knee pain, when caused by injury, extended wear and tear, or arthritis, can get in the way of everyday life and stop you from performing basic tasks like walking, climbing stairs, or sitting cross-legged. The pain can get progressively worse if lifestyle changes, medication, and physical therapy prove ineffective.
In this case, there’s only one solution: knee replacement surgery.
There are many queries around knee replacement surgery that a knee doctor might get on a regular basis. Let’s start with the most common one:
What Is the Typical Knee Replacement Age Range?
Let’s get one thing straight: there is no set age for when a person can get a knee replacement surgery. However, doctors typically see patients between 50 and 80 years of age.
- 50s-60s: This is the age when adults are still relatively active. Knee replacement patients in this age window benefit the most from the procedure – they recover faster and get to enjoy improved mobility for longer.
- 70s-80s: This is still a good age for surgery. Recovery might be a little slower for patients in this age bracket, especially if they have other health conditions.
60-70 years is the sweet spot for knee replacement patients. This is typically when arthritis is advanced enough for you to require surgery, but overall health is strong enough for a quick and hassle-free recovery.
Types of Knee Replacement Surgery
Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor might advise you of one of the two surgery options: partial knee replacement or total knee replacement.
- Partial Knee Replacement: Partial knee replacement surgery is done when only one out of three compartments of the knee is defective. So, only the affected component of the knee is removed and replaced with an artificial implant. This surgery is usually recommended to younger and more active individuals.
- Total Knee Replacement: Total knee replacement refers to a surgical procedure that takes out and replaces all three components of the knee joint with artificial implants. It is generally done in case of older individuals with severe arthritis, when the entire knee is damaged.
- Revision Surgery: You might be advised to get a revision surgery if you underwent a knee replacement surgery 15-20 years ago. If your implant gets too worn out, you will be advised to undergo revision surgery, which will replace the old implant with a new one.
How Does Age Affect Knee Replacement Recovery?
- If you get surgery at the age of 50, you have brighter prospects of a speedy recovery. The reasons are that you are likely to have stronger bones and muscles and no underlying health conditions when you are younger.
However, we recommend that you follow a healthy lifestyle so that you do not need a revision surgery later in life. Being overweight or engaging in excessively strenuous activities are two such factors that contribute to the faster wearing out of prosthetic implants.
- If you get surgery later in life, while you are still healthy with no systemic health conditions, you are likely to recover faster. Also, your implant may very well last your lifetime. It is just that you should follow your ortho surgeon’s advice and get proper physiotherapy for the recommended duration.
These days, we frequently see people in their 70s and 80s with multiple comorbidities getting their knees replaced with advanced robotic knee surgery. This cutting-edge surgery is minimally invasive and ensures unmatched precision with better implant placement, which helps you recover sooner. Most patients typically recover and get back to performing normal activities within 1.5 – 2 months.
Surgeons generally weigh the pros and cons of knee replacement surgery when you experience symptoms versus the risk of surgery-related complications and future revision surgeries, while recommending knee replacement to you.
When to Consider Knee Replacement Surgery?
Here are some signs that you should consult a knee doctor in Chandigarh regarding your knee replacement surgery:
- Excessive knee pain that prohibits regular life activities such as walking or climbing stairs
- Continuous stiffness or inflammation/swelling that doesn’t go away with medication
- Difficulty/pain in standing or moving, even after physiotherapy
- Sleep disturbances caused by knee pain
- X-rays that show severe joint/bone damage
- Conservative treatments prove ineffective
If you can relate to some or most of these symptoms, it’s best not to delay knee surgery.
Why Choose Sohana Hospital for Knee Replacement Surgery in Mohali?
At Sohana Hospital, Mohali, we take pride in offering the most advanced AI+Robotic knee replacement surgery along with other treatment options to our patients. We have a highly experienced and dedicated team of orthopaedists and nursing staff who work tirelessly to provide every patient with the best care.