Knee pain is something you continue to ignore to a point where it becomes hard to bear. Not only is it frustrating, but it also upsets your daily routine. At this point, you start thinking of knee replacement surgery.
While some may require only one knee to be replaced, others may need bilateral knee replacement. Many patients who have both their knees damaged due to arthritis or any other condition face an important question:
👉 One knee at a time or both knees together?
In this blog, we are going to have a look at the benefits and drawbacks of both – when you choose to get only one knee done at a time and when you get both your knees replaced simultaneously. Understanding your options can help you make the right decision.
What is Bilateral Knee Replacement?
Bilateral knee replacement involves the surgery of both knees. It is commonly recommended when both knee joints are severely damaged. Conservative treatments have failed to bring respite, and you have severe pain, stiffness, and limited movement in both.
Some patients opt to get both their knees replaced on the same day. Others choose to have a gap of days, weeks, or even a few months between their two knee replacement surgeries.
The choice is often related to your health, the severity of pain, and lifestyle requirements. You should make your final decision after a thorough discussion with your orthopaedic doctor.
One Knee at a Time (Staged Surgery)
In this approach, one knee is replaced first. Highly experienced orthopaedic surgeons at Sohana Hospital, Mohali, replace the damaged parts of the knee with artificial implants. Once the operated knee recovers, you get your other knee replaced.
Benefits:
- Shorter surgery timeÂ
- Less time under anaesthesia
- Less stress on the heart and lungs
- Safer for the elderly or patients with multiple co-morbidities (heart disease, diabetes complications, or other health concerns)
- Less burden on physiotherapists and caregivers[1]
Limitations:
- Will have to get admitted to hospital twice
- Will have to get anaesthesia twice
- Two separate recoveries (double the time to recover)
- Higher overall cost
Both Knees Together (Simultaneous Surgery)
This approach replaces both knees in a single operation. Simultaneous bilateral knee replacement is fast becoming popular among patients. The reason is that the ability to walk gets revived only when both knees become functional. Instead of two separate surgeries with an interval of weeks or months, both knees are operated on together. This often allows faster recovery.
Benefits:
- You get anesthesia only once (and hence less total exposure to anaesthesia[2])
- One hospital stayÂ
- One rehabilitation (recovery) period (as both knees recover together)
- Faster return to normal life
- Lower financial burden
Things to consider:
- Longer surgery duration
- Slightly higher physical stress on the body
- Blood transfusion may be needed
- Requires good overall health
Healthy and active patients often prefer this option because it offers faster recovery and earlier return to normal routine.
Which Option is Right for You?
There is no “one-size-fits-all” answer. The best choice depends on:
- Age
- Fitness level
- Heart and lung health
- Severity of arthritis
- Pain levels
- Lifestyle needs
At Sohana Hospital, orthopaedic specialists conduct a careful assessment of each patient by analysing their medical history, making physical examinations, and performing other diagnostic tests. Based on this evaluation, they recommend the safest and most effective plan.
Advanced robotic knee replacement technology at Sohana Hospital is minimally invasive. It ensures less pain, minimal blood loss, implant placement, low complication risk, and faster recovery. This applies to all kinds of knee surgeries – whether you choose to get both knees replaced together, one knee at a time, or even a complex revision knee surgery.Â
When Should You Consider Knee Surgery?
Knee replacement surgery can be a life-changing decision, but one that may initially require courage. However, if you have been experiencing any of the following symptoms, and conservative treatment options do not help, it is good to consult a trusted knee specialist and make up your mind about knee surgery.
- Constant knee pain
- Difficulty walking or climbing stairs
- Persistent stiffness or swelling
- Unstable knees
- Loss of flexibility in knees
- Inability or difficulty performing daily activities
Take the First Step Toward Pain-Free Living
Living with knee pain can be harder than it may seem. But the good thing is that you don’t need to suffer in silence. With modern technologies like robotic-assisted knee replacement and personalised care at Sohana Hospital, the procedure is safer and smoother than ever.
Talk to your orthopaedic doctor, ask questions to clear your doubts, understand your options, and choose what appeals to you and your family. At Sohana Hospital, people come in, hardly able to walk, and leave walking confidently on their own two feet and with a smile of contentment on their faces. It is the most trusted destination for knee replacement surgery in the entire North India.
Expert knee surgeons + robotic technology = Quicker return to normal life
FAQs – Knee Replacement Surgery
1. What is bilateral knee replacement surgery?
Bilateral knee replacement is a procedure in which you get both your knees replaced with artificial joints. Some patients choose to get both their knees replaced at the same time. Others may get one knee replaced first, wait for some months, and then get the other knee replaced.
2. Is it safe to replace both knees at the same time?
Yes, replacing both knees together can be safe for healthy patients – if you have good heart and lung function. Benefits include one surgery instead of two, one hospital stay, and one recovery period. Trusted orthopaedic specialists at Sohana Hospital will assess your overall health before recommending this option.
3. Which is better – one knee at a time or both knees together?
It varies from person to person – depending on your age, overall health, level of pain in your knees, and lifestyle requirements. For older patients and those with systemic health conditions like diabetes or heart conditions, staged knee replacement (one knee at a time) may be more suitable.
For healthier patients and looking for a faster return to normal life, simultaneous surgery (both knees together) may be a good option. It is more cost-effective and offers faster recovery. At Sohana Hospital, the best knee doctors in Mohali will guide you regarding the best knee replacement surgery option for you. We conduct detailed pre-surgery checkups to assess what will be best for you.
4. How long does recovery take after bilateral knee replacement?
Most patients start walking within 1–2 days after surgery with support. Full recovery and return to daily activities usually take 30-45 days with proper physiotherapy. Advanced robotic knee replacement is a minimally invasive surgery at Sohana Hospital that can help reduce pain and speed up recovery.
5. Why choose robotic knee replacement for bilateral surgery?
Robotic knee replacement at Sohana Hospital is done using the world’s most advanced CUVIS robot. For patients, it means a virtually painless surgery, unmatched precision, better implant alignment, less damage to surrounding tissues, and quicker recovery.
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