Recent advances in surgery and medical technologies mean that some patients are now able to have partial knee replacement surgery with less than a 24-hour hospital stay. If you are having a total knee replacement or if you are at risk of developing complications, you may need to stay in hospital one or two nights so that we can monitor you.
In the near future, however, we expect to be discharging some patients on the same day as their knee replacement surgery.
These improvements in knee replacement surgery are great news for patients as they mean less time in hospital and more time spent recovering safely at home. As well as being more comfortable, recovering at home lowers the risk of hospital-acquired infection and possibly other complications such as deep vein thrombosis or infection. You will be encouraged to get up and about soon after surgery (we call this ‘early mobilisation’), once your spinal anaesthetic has worn off, to lower any potential risk of blood clots. This helps you to make a speedier return to normal activities and improves recovery rates.
Who can have knee replacement surgery?
You will be offered a knee replacement if you are experiencing severe pain due to a degenerative condition like osteoarthritis or if you have had a serious knee fracture with secondary arthritic changes. The procedure entails removing the damaged areas of your knee joint and replacing them with artificial implants (prosthetics). Partial knee replacement means only the worn arthritic parts of the joint are replaced whereas total knee replacement means your whole knee joint is replaced by a prosthetic implant.
Knee replacement surgery – what to expect
Before
Before the day of your operation, you will meet with your orthopaedic surgeon for a pre-operative assessment. Your surgeon will explain the procedure and you will be able to ask questions or raise any concerns you might have.
On the day
Your knee replacement surgery will be carried out under spinal anaesthetic with sedation, which means you will be asleep throughout, but breathing for yourself and easily rousable. An incision of around 10-15cm will be made on the front of your knee and the damaged sections of your joint will be removed and replaced with a prosthetic implant. When you wake up from the procedure, you will be given medication to help you manage the pain. We will supervise you while you stand up and walk around and we will show you how to get in and out of bed and in and out of a car safely to protect your new joint. We will also supervise you walking up and down stairs properly with your crutch.
Afterwards
Once we are happy that you can perform basic tasks, such as getting to the toilet by yourself, you will be discharged from hospital. At home you will need someone with you to assist you for the first few days. You will be able to eat on the same day as your surgery, although not beforehand. Do not have a shower until the day after your surgery as it is important to keep the wound clean and dry. Once you are able to shower, you should avoid scrubbing the surgical area or getting it very wet. Pat it dry gently with a clean towel and do not have a bath or get into a pool. Apart from when you are in the shower, it is important to wear compression stockings as directed by your surgeon. Often these can be dispensed with after your hospital discharge, as long as you remain mobile.
You will have a follow-up appointment with your orthopaedic surgeon around two weeks after surgery to check on your progress and recovery.
Recovering from knee replacement surgery
It takes around six weeks to recover from the initial soft tissue trauma of knee replacement surgery. For the first two to three weeks, you will need to use crutches or walking aids, but most people only need a single crutch by week four. Your surgeon will advise you when it is safe to start driving again or when you can go back to work. Generally, patients are able to drive four to six weeks after the date of their surgery.
Talk to an orthopaedic consultant | Cambridge
If you are scheduled to undergo a knee replacement and you would like to discuss your options, contact us.
Our consultation fees are clearly presented here.
For your convenience, we offer appointments at both Nuffield Hospital Cambridge and Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital.
