Total Knee Replacement
Surgery

What is a total knee replacement?
A total knee replacement refers to the technical name of the operation by which a
diseased knee undergoes a joint replacement. Pioneered in the 1980's, this
procedure is nowadays one of the most commonest and successful surgeries in the
field. The purpose of the procedure is two-fold: to relieve chronic pain and to
increase function of the knee joint.

What are the complications of knee replacement?
The overall risks are considered small. The potential benefits of pain relief and
increased function far outweigh risks associated with the procedure. Nevertheless,
complications are a rare possibility. These include adverse reactions to anesthesia
and drugs given during the procedure, bleeding, leg clots, nerve damage, infection,
and risk of dislocation.

What should I expect after surgery?
In general, the patient should expect a short-term disability generally ranging from
six to twelve weeks. Though he/she will be ambulatory within days, the natural
healing process of wound healing requires a longer convalescence interval to
strengthen the scar tissue about the operated knee. It is important to grant the
body sufficient time to recover.