Total knee replacement (TKR) is a life-transforming procedure for individuals with severe knee pain. Knee replacement is among the most successful surgeries in the world, yet it is surrounded by various myths and misconceptions.
At Sohana Hospital, we believe in educating our patients with the correct information about total knee replacement. So, let us learn the facts and debunk myths around knee replacement surgery at Sohana Hospital.
Myth 1: Knee Replacement Surgery Has a Low Success Rate
A lot of patients tend to avoid or delay their knee surgery because they are doubtful about its success. In reality, it features among the most successful surgeries in modern medicine, boasting consistent success rates of more than 95%.
Apart from that, studies reveal that patient satisfaction is also high – about 90-95%. This is because most patients get significant relief from pain along with considerably improved mobility. It is a clear indication that knee surgery can be an effective solution to joint issues.
Myth 2: Knee Replacement Surgery is Very Painful
Traditionally knee surgery used to be quite painful. However, now we have robotic knee surgery at Sohana Hospital. Being minimally-invasive with smaller incisions and less blood loss, it is virtually painless.
Additionally, orthopaedic doctors use a combination of regional nerve blocks, pain killers, and customised rehabilitation for pain management. Most patients who get robotic knee replacement often report negligible pain and fast recovery.
Myth 3: Knee Replacement Lasts for a Few Years Only
Modern knee implants are designed to last for many years. Research shows that today’s knee implants are highly durable – lasting for 15-20 years or even more. Better implant materials and improvements in design mean modern knee replacements have better longevity than ever.
Robotic knee replacement at Sohana Hospital ensures precise implant placement and alignment by expert surgeons. This is another key element to ensure the implant has a long life and gives a more natural feel.
This gives patients lasting relief from knee pain and improved mobility. It has been found that 90-95% of knee implants continue to work properly after 15 years of surgery. 85-90% have been functioning well even after 20 years, and 80-85% have remained effective after 25 years.
Having said that, you would probably like to know what affects how long a knee implant lasts. There are some factors that affect the life of knee implants. You should maintain a healthy body weight, and stay active but avoid high-impact activities like running and jumping. These precautions help ensure excessive stress is not there on the knee joint, and it lasts longer.
Myth 4: Knee Replacement Surgery Should be Delayed as Long as Possible
Delaying knee replacement is not a good idea. For one, you continue to bear severe knee pain for a longer time. Your mobility becomes very limited and you may lose the sense of freedom and independence. Lack of physical activity may lead to other physical and mental health issues, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, cardiac problems, and depression.
To top it all, when you finally get your knee surgery done, it may be more complicated and come with much slower recovery.
Myth 5: Knee Replacement Surgery will Involve Months of Recovery
It was never so as even with manual knee replacement, patients would get back to normal activities in 3-4 months. And robotic knee surgery has paced up recovery like never before. Patients start walking the same day of surgery with help from physiotherapists.
Within 4-5 days, they get discharged from the hospital. And within 1-1.5 months, they feel healthy enough to go for walks, perform household chores, resume driving, and even engage in hobbies like gardening and dancing at functions. A month of doctor-recommended exercises ensures that you recover at a fast pace.
Myth 6: Implants are Foreign Objects for Body and May Have Side Effects
Artificial implants are made from such metals that are compatible with the human body, and can stay inside for years without causing any reaction or side-effects.
Myth 7: Diabetes and High BP May Come in Way of Knee Surgery
Systemic health conditions like diabetes and hypertension pose no hurdle if you follow your doctor’s advice. The only thing that matters is that sugar and BP should be under control, and modern medications help achieve this, allowing you to go ahead with your knee replacement surgery.
In fact, after getting your knees replaced, you can lead an active lifestyle, which may help you better manage these conditions.
Myth 8: Knee Surgery can Help People in a Specific Age Bracket Only
Knee replacement can help anybody, irrespective of their age. If your knees pain too much, there is constant swelling and stiffness, and your normal life is getting disrupted, knee replacement can be an ideal solution. Whatever be the reason behind your knee pain – arthritis, injury, or something else, you can get your knees replaced.
There have been instances of patients in their early fifties as well as in their late eighties, who regained mobility and independence with knee replacement surgery. Most start feeling young and active once again.
Takeaway!
Knee replacement surgery has been around for more than 40 years now. People suffering from knee issues have been taking advantage of the surgery to get freedom from knee pain and restore mobility. The surgery has seen a lot of advancements in technology, types of implants, and other aspects.
With the advent of robotic knee replacement, the surgery has turned almost painless with negligible blood loss, low complication risk, and speedy recovery. Still many patients have inhibitions, and they continue to suffer in silence, which also aggravates their knee damage. Should you have any doubts and queries about the surgery, do discuss them with the best knee specialist in Chandigarh.
At Sohana Hospital, our expert knee surgeons have been performing knee replacement surgeries for more than 20 years now, and the number of successful knee replacements is as high as thirty thousand, and still counting!
Just visit Sohana Hospital, the leader in robotic knee replacement in North India. With world-class infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities, the hospital is the preferred choice of not only Indian patients but also international patients.
Just a decision, and you can look forward to a revived enthusiasm for life with your new knees!