Knee Joint Replacement Surgery : FAQs

April 14, 2025

Arguably the most frequent grievance among adults, knee pain is particularly prevalent among individuals older than 50 years. In some, there is potentially some relief with non-surgical management in the form of physiotherapy, medications, or injections. Nevertheless, if persistent pain in the knee significantly affects mobility and quality of life, knee joint replacement surgery is a proven intervention.

As orthopaedic surgeons, we tend to get asked a great deal of things by patients who are considering knee replacement. In this article, we respond to some of the most common questions to provide reassurance and understanding to practitioners and patients.

What Is Knee Replacement Surgery?

Knee arthroplasty, also known as knee replacement, is surgery which involves removing bone and cartilage that has been damaged in the knee joint, replacing it with artificial parts called prostheses. They mimic the function of a healthy knee and reduce pain significantly, and also restore mobility.

There are two types:-

• Total Knee Replacement (TKR): Both the joint surfaces on the femoral and tibial ends are replaced, and, in some cases, the patella.
• Partial Knee Replacement (PKR): Just the involved knee compartment (medial, lateral, or patellofemoral) is replaced.

Who Can Get a Knee Replacement?

All patients with knee pain are not candidates for surgery. Knee replacement typically is scheduled in those patients who have:-

• Elevated-grade type of osteoarthritis or arthritis
• Gross joint deformity or degeneration
• Intractable and chronic pain that was not manageable by conservative treatment
• Gross impairment of mobility with disabling normal function

Orthopaedic diagnosis includes clinical examination and radiological tests like X-rays or MRI to determine the extent of joint destruction.

What is the Optimal Age for Knee Replacement Surgery?

There isn’t a “perfect” age, but most of our patients who have knee replacement are in the 60 to 80 age range. More and more, improved implant technology nowadays means younger patients (40s and 50s) with disabling pain and disability are presenting for operation, too.

Younger patients should be warned, however, that revision surgery could be required later in life as prosthetic joints will ultimately have to be replaced due to aging.

Lifespan of Knee Implants

Recent knee implants are long-lasting and are designed to last 15 to 20 years, or more. Factors that influence the lifespan of an implant are:-

• Patient weight and activity level
• Design of the prosthesis
• Surgical site and technique

Patients will typically be told to avoid heavy use such as running or jumping following surgery so that the implant is left in the same condition it was designed with.

How long is Recovery after Knee Replacement?

Recovery is different from patient to patient but generally follows this timeline:-

• Hospital Stay: 2–4 days for the typical patient
• Walking with Assistance: Within 24–48 hours after surgery
• Return to Normal Activities: 4–6 weeks
• Peak Recovery: 3–6 months

Physical rehabilitation and physiotherapy are necessary in order to gain strength, flexibility, and normal functioning. The more focused a patient is on physical therapy, the best.

Is the Surgery Painful?

Pain can be anticipated with any operation but adequately controlled based on drugs. Patients are normally prescribed a combination of regional anaesthesia and mechanisms of pain alleviation post operation.

Actually, most of the patients feel much less postoperative pain than they experienced due to their previous chronic pain. Due to more recent minimally invasive surgery and pain control measures, postoperative pain is lessened.

What Are the Risks and Complications?

Knee replacement is safe and very successful. It has some risks but:-

• Infection
• Blood clots
• Loosening or wearing away of the implant
• Chronic pain or stiffness
• Damage to nerves or blood vessels (rare)

These are avoided with good surgical technique, pre-op optimization, and post-op.

Will the New Knee Feel Natural?

While most of the patients experience an amazing improvement in the movement and the pain, it’s reassuring to know that the knee won’t be absolutely the same as an ordinary joint. Some patients experience:

• The slightest click or clunk on movement
• Slightly perceivable numbness around the incision
• Limited capability to squat or kneel

Even though, these sensations pass away with the passage of time, and the improved quality of life fully compensates for them.

Can Both Knees Be Done at the Same Time?

Yes, bilateral knee replacement. It is performed:

• Concurrently (both knees at the same time)
• Staged (one knee, then the second one after weeks or months)

Replacement at the same time leads to quicker overall recovery but with slightly more risk of surgery. It’s usually utilized in young and healthy patients. Staged replacement is better indicated in older patients or those who have other conditions.

What Lifestyle Adjustments Are Needed After Surgery?

Patients following knee replacement are urged to adopt a healthy lifestyle for protection of their implant and overall long-term success. These include:-

• Weight control to minimize stress on the joint
• Low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming, or cycling are recommended
• Steering clear of high-impact sports
• Regular follow-ups with the orthopaedic surgeon

Staying active but careful helps the implant to last longer and work well.

How Successful Is Knee Replacement Surgery?

Knee replacement is one of the most successful orthopaedic surgeries. In line with numerous studies:-

• More than 90% of patients experience considerable relief from pain
• 85-90% of patients experience high satisfaction rates after surgery
• Success rates exceeding 95% are obtained long-term in most clinically following-up

All factors, namely patient compliance, operative experience, and patient education, are significant in effective procedures.

Are There Alternatives to Knee Replacement

There are a number of other treatments aside from surgery that can be prescribed before surgery is under consideration:

• Physical therapy
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Intra-Articular injections (hyaluronic acid or corticosteroids)
• Weight loss and activity reduction
• Walking aid or bracing devices

When these are not effective, replacement of the knee is the answer.

Conclusion

Knee joint replacement is now a safe and life-altering therapy for patients with chronic disability and pain of the knee joint. With the use of modern operative technique, advanced prosthetic devices, and aggressive rehabilitation, excellent results are achieved by most patients—leading to active pain-free living.

Being orthopaedic surgeons, there is a need to listen to the patients’ problems and set realistic expectations. By providing them with accurate information regarding their problems in the form of short and honest replies, we equip them with the ability to make well-informed decisions regarding their mobility and health.

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