Total Knee Replacement

Our knees undergo a great deal of stress throughout our lifetime. They bear the brunt over bodyweight and undergo various twists and turns which can result in a fair amount of damage of the knee joint. In some cases, patients may be treated fairly easily with simple painkillers and physical therapy, however in more advanced cases, patients may require a total knee replacement. In this article we shall take a brief look at this procedure.

What is total knee replacement?

Total knee replacement is a surgical procedure that involves removal of the bones and cartilage that forms the knee joint and replacement of these structures with a prosthetic device.

When is a total knee replacement performed?

A total knee replacement is performed when the knee joint has been significantly damaged due to trauma or an underlying disease process. Trauma can include road traffic accidents or crush injuries which completely destroy the knee i.e. lower end of the femur and upper end of the tibia along with the intervening cartilages. Disease processes include osteoarthritis of the knee joint which is an age-related change that results in the destruction of the ends of the bones, narrowing of the space in between the knee joint and loss of sign of real fluid along with the degeneration of the cartilage within the knee. Patients experience a great deal of pain when moving the knee and this can have a significant impact on their day-to-day lives. It is in such situations that a total knee replacement is performed.

How is a procedure performed?

In brief, once significant damages occurred to the knee joint, the area of skin over the knee joint is cleaned with antiseptic solution and covered in sterile drapes. Under general anaesthesia, accesses obtained the knee joint and the relevant structures that may have been destroyed are removed. This can include the lower end of the femur, upper end of the tibia, patella and the intervening cartilage and fluid.

Once the structures are removed, a metallic prosthesis which has the same shape as the knee joint is placed in the position where the bones initially were and the tendons are reattached and the skin is closed. The entire procedure can take a few hours to complete and unfortunately can be rather expensive.

Once concluded, patients can start mobilising gently under supervision by a physical therapist. It can take a few weeks before patients return to the normal activities where they can go on to lead completely normal lives after total knee replacement.

Cost issues

It should come as no surprise that in the Western world, total knee replacements are extremely expensive. While they may be performed in state-of-the-art hospitals under the care of expert physicians, the same treatment with the same facilities can now be obtained for a lot less in other centres such as in Costa Rica. The physicians are accredited by American universities and boards and have the experience and knowledge to manage conditions with severe knee degeneration. Of course, Costa Rica is also a great place to visit and the benefit of having a good holiday and having your knee sorted out at the same time for literally no cost whatsoever (when compared to the United States) is an added bonus!

In conclusion, a total knee replacement is a complex procedure that requires expertise and suitable facilities. Cost issues can be troublesome but the same care and facilities can be obtained in Costa Rica. Long-term outcomes are excellent.

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