Frequently Asked Questions

Stick is to be taken in opposite side as it increases efficiency of load transmission by liver arm mechanism.

Braces are preferred as they are stronger and more efficient.

Not to sit cross legged

Not to squat

Avoid climbing stairs

Yes, exercise helps by making muscles flexible and stronger.

More useful exercises are walking, cycling without resistance, swimming.

Exercises, physiotherapy and gel injection…but their outcome is not predictable.

3 types of injections are available

1.  Steroid – instant relief for short duration.
2. Hyaluronic acid – Early-stage Osteoarthritis or severe arthritis for those who are medically unfit or want to delay surgery for short duration.
3.  Platelet rich plasma – Early-stage Osteoarthritis. It has advantage of partially reversing the process of degeneration and helping for cartilage regeneration. 

Osteoarthritis is progressive process

• Unnecessary waiting damages joint surface more, deforms bones, restricts movement, makes surgery technically more difficult for surgeon.
• Patients’ health deteriorates overtime and likelihood of surgery related complications,
• In some scenario severely damaged joint may not be repairable with routine implants and may need more advanced and expensive implants that is with rods and hinge.
• With age increasing osteoporosis compromise the hold of implant reducing the survivorship

Medication gives temporary relief for short duration. Long term use of pain killer can cause renal failure and peptic ulcerations.

There is no scientifically proven permanent non-surgical cure on advanced osteoarthritis; theses all work for temporary relief in early to moderate arthritis. It is observed that many people end up with trying these therapies as they are fearful of uncertainty of surgery. This delays surgery but cannot avoid.

Age is no age bar as earliest TKR we had done was for 45 yrs old female of rheumatoid arthritis and oldest patient was of 90 yrs who had age related arthritis

Age is not contraindication for surgery, if clinically fit he/she can undergo the procedure after fitness from anesthesia and physician.

We may do total knee replacement in young patients. This requires in post-traumatic

and rheumatoid arthritis patient. However, they need to avoid contact sports for

increasing the longevity of implants.

If you have

•   Pain of intensity that seeks you need for analgesic
•   Pain causing difficulty in daily activities
•   Pain stopping you from travel and compromising your quality of life

Consider for Total Knee Replacement.

After stage 4 arthritis, if your deformities are progressive, one should not wait more. Waiting makes arthritis more complex and that can cause reduction in success rate. Justifiable reason to wait is due to medical issue if any

Modern day approach such as multimodal medications, nerve blocks, and local tissue infiltration have made surgery relatively pain free and friendly.

•   You have high probability of getting back activities like cycling and brisk walking.
•   Squatting and sitting cross legged is possible but should be kept minimal in order to have longer life to implants.

It is lot easier and more possible after 8weeks

•   In 24 to 48 hrs patients walk, and become independent for toilet
•   In 3 weeks almost all start staircase climbing and social activities.
•   Kitchen activity for females possible after 4 weeks .

Recovery is a gradual process. Walking and physical therapy exercises will help speed your recovery.

•   Most patients are able to participate in most daily activities till 6 weeks.
•   Most joint replacement patients have regained the strength and   endurance they had before surgery till 3 months.
•   Most patients can expect full recovery till 6 months, depending on the type of surgery and your overall health and the success of your rehabilitation.

•   If  cardio pulmonary status is okay and blood loss acceptable after one leg knee replacement.
•   if anesthesia team permits

Other side knee replacement can be done at same stage.

 or else

it is preferable after 6 to 12 weeks.

•   If we have pain relief in both knees earliest, gait improvement and walking will be better.
•   As well as anesthesia drug requirement ,stay and cost of surgery is reduced by almost 40 percent if both side replacement id done in single stage.

Precision of surgery, advancement in biomaterials, today’s knee last for around 20 years or longer and is lifetime for most. 

Studies have demonstrated that 85% of the knee implants placed 20 years ago are still functioning well.

Point to be noted that these were implants manufactured in the 1990s. With the significant improvements made in implant materials as well as surgical techniques, instruments, today’s knee implants will probably last much longer than these.

It can be successfully done in obese. Evidence suggest comparable results , but these cases need  more expertise and special techniques.

Some people wait with hope to reduce weight and then do replacement but with painful arthritic knee it’s difficult to lose weight as patients are less mobile. In fact many lose weight after replacement as they can participate in brisk and prolong exercises after replacement.

Evidence says that if weight more than 130kg then do the bariatric surgery first.

These conditions are no bar.

Detail checkup is routine, and treated patients are better candidates for surgery.

These diseases do not affect outcome but cautions needed.

In fact one can gain better health and better control of diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, as one will be able to walk without pain and go longer distance.

No, whole knee is never replaced. Only worn-out part is removed and replaced by artificial ones. So technically it is more like resurfacing rather than replacement.

There are various designs and company of implants, many are good.

All have different instrumentation system.

SDifferent surgeons use different company ,so better to choose surgeon and leave it upon him to choose implant.

There is reliable data to support that they are indeed superior. Indian and imported both are good but results don’t depend on only implants.

Results depend on post operative care, physiotherapy and technique.

There is evidence that computer navigation is marginally better than conventional for overall alignment.

In an unfortunate event, knee replacement can be done again, it is called revision surgery and it has good survivorship.

These are biocompatible implants. They are inert and don’t give allergic reactions to body.

The only risk in the entire surgery is the risk of infection. This risk is around 2%. This risk is universally same in any center which is well equipped.

Research also showed that knee replacement surgery has 95 % success rate in most patients.

99% patients do not need a physiotherapist at home. We teach patients all the exercises while they are in the hospital and all patients needs to do it at home.

98% patients are walking without an aid after 4 weeks.