Knee Joint and its Replacement

One of the most excessively used joints in the body is the knee joint, right from crawling to walking, running, jumping, and even all other day to day activities, the knee joint plays a pivotal role in keeping your movement fluidic and easy. With great power, comes great responsibility and also greater number of problems. This is one of the prime reasons why your knee is susceptible to a large number of disorders and diseases. Some of the most commonly seen ones by Joint replacement surgeon in Vijayawada are:

1. Osteoarthritis: Wear and tear of the cartilage, leading to bone-on-bone contact, causing pain and stiffness.
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis: Autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the joints, including the knee, leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling.
3. Meniscal Tears: Injuries to the cartilage that cushions the joint, causing pain and limited mobility needing a consultation at Keyhole Surgery hospital in Vijayawada.

1. Ligament Sprains: Injuries to the ligaments that connect the bones, causing pain and instability.
2. Tendinitis: Inflammation of the tendons that connect muscles to bones, leading to pain and stiffness.
3. Bursitis: Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joints, causing pain and swelling.
4. Runner's Knee: Overuse or repetitive strain on the patellofemoral joint needing attention in Arthroscopy Hospital in Vijayawada
5. Chondromalacia Patellae: Softening of the cartilage under the kneecap, causing pain and discomfort, seen commonly in sports players.
6. Kneecap Dislocation: Displacement of the kneecap from its normal position

To understand more on how your knees age, it is essential to see the most common affects on aging on the knees

1. Cartilage Wear and Tear: With age, the cartilage that cushions the joints breaks down, causing bone-on-bone contact and pain.
2. Synovial Fluid Reduction: The synovial fluid that lubricates the joint reduces in volume, leading to stiffness and reduced mobility.
3. Ligament and Tendon Weakness: The ligaments and tendons that connect the bones and muscles weaken with age, making the joint more prone to injury and Arthroscopic Surgery in Vijayawada
4. Bone Loss: The bones in the knee joint shrink and lose density, leading to reduced strength and stability.
5. Meniscal Tears: The menisci, which are cartilage structures that cushion the joint, can tear with age, causing pain and limited mobility.
6. Inflammation: Age-related inflammation in the joint can lead to increased pain and stiffness.

These changes can occur gradually over time, making it important for people to take steps to maintain healthy knees as they age, such as staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing any underlying health conditions, detailed below:

1. Stay Active: Regular exercise, such as swimming, cycling, or walking, can help maintain joint mobility and strength. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per day.
2. Maintain a Healthy Weight: Excess weight puts additional strain on the knee joints, so maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise can help reduce the risk of degenerative conditions.
3. Stretch and Strengthen: Regular stretching and strengthening exercises can help maintain flexibility and strength in the knee joint.
4. Use Proper Technique: When engaging in physical activities, use proper technique to avoid putting excessive stress on the knee joints. This can help reduce the risk of injury and degenerative conditions.
5. Improve Posture: Maintaining good posture can help reduce the strain on the knee joints. Make sure to stand tall and avoid slouching or leaning forward.
6. Get Enough Sleep: Getting enough sleep is essential for maintaining overall health, including joint health. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
7. Manage Stress: Chronic stress can lead to inflammation and degeneration of the knee joints. Engage in stress-reducing activities such as yoga or meditation to manage stress levels.
8. Monitor and Adjust: Monitor your knee health regularly and make adjustments as needed. If you experience persistent pain or stiffness, consult with a healthcare professional for guidance and Keyhole joint Surgery in Vijayawada.

Orthopaedic surgeons in Vijayawada suggest that by incorporating these tips into your daily routine, you can help maintain healthy knee joints and reduce the risk of degenerative conditions.

Keeping all this in mind, in case you are suffering from severe knee pain and standard course of medication, lifestyle changes and physiotherapy have not yielded any useful results, it could be a time to consider knee replacement. Some of the signs which could indicate its need are:

1. Severe Knee Pain: If you experience persistent and debilitating pain in your knee joint, especially during daily activities, it may be a sign that the joint is severely damaged.
2. Limited Mobility: If you find it difficult to perform everyday activities due to knee stiffness, swelling, or limited mobility, it may be a sign that the joint is no longer functioning properly.
3. Deformed Joint: If your knee joint is severely deformed, such as bowed or twisted, it may be a sign that the joint is no longer stable and requires replacement.
4. Advanced Osteoarthritis: If you have advanced osteoarthritis, which has significantly reduced the joint space between the bones and caused significant bone-on-bone contact, surgery may be necessary to alleviate pain and restore function.
5. Knee Instability: If you experience frequent knee instability, buckling, or giving way, it may be a sign that the joint is no longer stable and requires replacement.

Understanding the types of knee replacements:

1. Total Knee Replacement (TKR): This is the most common type of knee replacement surgery, where the surgeon replaces the entire knee joint with artificial components.
2. Partial Knee Replacement (PKR): This type of surgery involves replacing only the damaged or arthritic parts of the knee joint, leaving the healthy surrounding tissue intact. PKR is often used for patients with mild to moderate knee damage.
3. Unicompartmental Knee Replacement: This type of surgery involves replacing only one compartment of the knee joint, such as the medial or lateral compartment.
4. Revision Knee Replacement: This is a type of surgery that involves replacing a previously implanted knee joint due to failure or complications.

At Best Super Speciality hospital, Orthopaedic hospital in Vijayawada, Fast track knee replacement services are available which helps patients get the best knee replacement service with smaller scar and lesser damage to surrounding muscles thereby helping them to walk on the very same day with lesser number of hospitalised days as well as hardly no bed ridden time. Some of the benefits are listed below by Orthopedician in Vijayawada for fast track knee replacement:

1. Minimally Invasive Technique
2. Reduced Blood Loss
3. Less Trauma to Soft Tissue
4. Faster Recovery and return to normal activities
5. Less Pain.
6. Smaller Scars
7. Early Mobility
8. Reduced hospital stay
9. Less pain medication
10. Better cosmetic results

If you or your loved ones are facing issues with knee pain, consult Orthopedic Doctor in Vijayawada at Best Super Speciality Hospital, one of the leading Joint replacement hospital in Vijayawada