About this topic
The knee joint is the largest joint in the body and has a number of parts. Cartilage covers parts of the joint in a normal knee. This smooth tissue lets the joint move easily. The cartilage can become worn and cause bone to rub on other bone. This might happen from damage due to wear and tear over time or from an injury. This often leads to pain, stiffness, and trouble walking. Sometimes, drugs and exercises can help you control the pain. When they stop working, you may need knee joint replacement (arthroplasty) surgery. ‚
The doctor replaces your diseased or injured knee joint with a new one. Metal and plastic parts replace your natural knee joint. ‚
View OriginalView Original
View OriginalView Original
View OriginalView Original
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- You may need to have someone help you at home for the first few weeks.
- Keep your house safe and clutter-free. This will make it safer for you to walk.
- Sometimes, the doctor orders a nurse to visit you at home. Physical therapists can also come to your home to help with exercises.
- Take your drugs as ordered by your doctor.
- Sit or lie with your leg above the heart level. This will help with swelling and pain.
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Protect your leg from injury. Be sure to use your crutches or walker. Do not put too much weight on your injured leg.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- How to care for your cut sites
- When you may take a bath or shower
- When you can go back to your normal activities like work or driving
What follow-up care is needed?
- Some people are not ready to go straight home after surgery. You may need to go to a rehab or skilled nursing facility for more therapy.
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- When you are able to leave your home, you may need more physical therapy (PT) at an outpatient clinic.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
- An x-ray test may be taken at the doctors office after surgery to check on how the bones are healing.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Fight an infection
- Prevent blood clots
Will physical activity be limited?
- You will need to use a device to help you walk, such as a walker or crutches. Follow your doctors orders on how much weight you can put on your operated leg. This can range from no weight-bearing to full weight-bearing.
- You will be able to do more as you get stronger. Your physical therapist can talk with you about a walking program. Most often, you should limit stair climbing to one flight of stairs per day when you first return home.
- Ask your doctor when you will be able to drive again.
- Ask your doctor when you can have sex. Once your doctor tells you that it is OK, do not put full weight on your knee joint. To keep stress off the joint, lie on your back and have your partner support his/her weight.
What problems could happen?
- Fracture
- Nerve or blood vessel injury
- Bleeding
- Leg not the same length as the other leg
- Blood clot or DVT (deep vein thrombosis)
- Lung infection
- Infection
- Stiff joints
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
Keep a healthy weight and lead an active lifestyle. These can help lessen the stress put on your knee joint. ‚
When do I need to call the doctor?
Go to the ER right away if you have: ‚
- Sudden shortness of breath, sudden onset of chest pain, breathing problems, pain or tenderness in your calf.
Call your doctor for: ‚
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, or wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Blood is soaking through your bandages
- Pain is not helped by taking drugs
- Pain or swelling in your calf muscles
- Your toes or foot look dark in color or feel cool to the touch
Helpful tips
- Do not sit in low chairs. Higher chairs with firm cushions will be easier to get out of.
- A raised toilet seat in the bathroom can help you to get up and down easier.
- When getting up from any surface, push up on the chair, bed, or toilet seat and then grab the walker once you are standing. Pulling up on the walker may cause it to tip and you to fall.
- When going up and down steps, always go up with your stronger leg first. When going down steps, lead with your operated leg.
- Do not turn (pivot) using your operated leg.
- For bathing, a tub bench may be helpful.
- Make sure all hand rails are secure in your home. Grab bars in the shower or near the toilet may be helpful.
- Using special tools like a reacher, long-handled sponge, sock aid, long-handled shoe horn may make your daily activities easier.
- Do not lift heavy objects.
- Always let your dentist know that you have had joint replacement surgery. You will need to take an antibiotic drug before every dental procedure for the rest of your life.
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have more pain or my foot is cool to the touch.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00221 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚