Knee Pain because of Injury or arthritis of the knee is one of the most common reasons for people seeking knee replacement surgery. If your knee is severely damaged by arthritis or injury, it may be hard for you to perform simple activities such as walking or climbing stairs. You may even begin to feel pain while you are sitting or lying down. If medications, changing your activity level, and using walking supports are no longer helpful, it is time to consider total knee replacement. By resurfacing your knee's damaged and worn surfaces, total knee replacement can relieve your pain, correct your leg deformity, and help you resume your normal activities.
The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the most easily injured. It is made up of the lower end of the thigh bone (femur), the upper end of the shin bone (tibia), and the knee cap (patella), which slides in a groove on the end of the femur.
Four bands of tissue-the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and the medial and lateral collateral ligaments-connect the femur and the tibia and provide joint stability. Strong thigh muscles give the knee strength and mobility.
The surfaces where the femur, tibia, and patella touch are covered with articular cartilage. Articular cartilage is a smooth substance that cushions the bones and enables them to glide freely. Semicircular rings of tough fibrous cartilage tissue called the lateral and medial menisci, act as shock absorbers and stabilizers.
The bones of the knee are surrounded by a thin, smooth tissue capsule lined by a thin synovial membrane. The synovium releases a special fluid that lubricates the knee, reducing friction to nearly zero in a healthy knee.
Normally, all parts of the knee work together in harmony. Sports, work injuries, arthritis, or weakening of the tissues with age can cause wear and inflammation, resulting in pain and diminished knee function. Arthroscopy can be used to diagnose and treat many of these problems:
Osteoarthritis of the knee is a condition characterized by the eroding of the articular cartilage of the knee joint. Simply put, it is the condition in which the bones of the knee joint rub together due to wear and tear of the joint. The condition is characterized by pain, swelling, stiffness, limited motion of the knee joint, and difficulty walking. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common arthritis with 46% of people getting affected once in their lifetime.
It occurs when the cartilage of the knee joint is damaged or worn out. Normally, the articular cartilage is a smooth and shiny surface that helps you to bend your knee and move without pain. It along with the meniscus acts like a shock absorber protecting the joint from jolts. The common reasons you may get osteoarthritis of the knee joint are – you are overweight, you had a previous knee injury or you frequently put stress on the knee joint such as in contact sports like football or you have crooked bones.
If you have excruciating pain, stiffness, and swelling with pain worsening while walking, or climbing stairs and affecting day-to-day activities, you might have knee osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is diagnosed by an Orthopaedic surgeon who initially assesses and physically investigates your knee and will get weight-bearing X-rays and MRI, if indicated. Excruciating pain in the knee with crepitations suggests you might have knee osteoarthritis. However, the confirmatory diagnosis is made by the X-rays and MRI.
CSI is a one-stop solution for all orthopedic, Joint Replacement & sports surgeries done by the best knee replacement surgeons in Delhi, India under the supervision of the acclaimed Best orthopedic & sports surgeon – Dr. Pushpinder Singh Bajaj. Backed by MSK Diagnostics and Orthopedic & Sports Physiotherapy Service in Delhi, the Center for Sports Injury is the Best Sports Injury Center located in the heart of South Delhi.
Total Knee Replacement – Also called Knee Arthroplasty, the procedure of Total Knee Replacement surgery involves replacing the surface of the bones. In a TKR, the entire knee joint is not replaced. It is usually recommended when you have arthritis in all compartments of the knee, and other treatments like injections have been ineffective.
Partial Knee Replacement – It is also known as unicompartmental knee arthroplasty or unicompartmental knee replacement. It involves the surgical resurfacing of one part of the damaged knee. In comparison with the total knee replacement, it is less invasive. It can help restore knee function by resolving pain in the knee joint. However, not all people are candidates for Partial knee replacement. It is indeed indicated for those who have partially affected knee joints, especially the medial portion with an intact ACL.
Robotic Knee Replacement – This is the latest technology of knee replacement where the surgeon performs the knee replacement procedure assisted by a robotic arm to carry for better accuracy and faster recovery.
This decision is taken by a visit to your orthopedic surgeon.
You may require a TKR if you have one of the following symptoms:
- Knee pain that limits your everyday activities, including walking, going up and down stairs, and getting in and out of chairs. You may find it hard to walk more than a few blocks without significant pain and you may need to use a cane or walker, thereby lowering your quality of life.
- Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that doesn't improve with rest or medication.
- Knee deformity-a bowing in or out of your knee.
- Failure to obtain pain relief from increasing dosage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Chronic use of these medications may lead to liver and kidney failure.
- Failure of other treatments such as steroid injection, physical therapy, or visscosupplements.
Most older persons can expect their total knee replacement to last 15 years or more. It will give years of pain-free living that would not have been possible otherwise. Younger knee replacement patients may need a second total knee replacement. Materials and surgical techniques are improving through the efforts of orthopaedists working with engineers and other scientists. The future is bright for those who choose to have a total knee replacement to achieve an improved quality of life through greater independence and healthier pain-free activity.
The alternatives to knee replacement procedures depend upon the level of Osteoarthritis or the degree to which the knee joint is damaged. This is decided by a thorough physical assessment and investigation done by your orthopedic surgeon. The preservation of the knee joint can be through Injections (PRP & GFC), conservative treatment like physiotherapy, and knee-preserving surgery called High-tibial Osteotomy and meniscotibial repair.
At CSI, we have a multidisciplinary team of Doctors and physiotherapists who help you walk on the same day and will help you return to work within a month.
You can travel within the first week of surgery as soon as when you feel comfortable.
Total Knee Replacement Surgery in India costs much less than what it costs in the Western world. TKR Surgery cost in Delhi is highly affordable and cost-effective than other Metros in India. At CSI, we have the best knee replacement surgeons in Delhi who work in coordination to deliver the best results.
If you would like to know more about Total Knee Replacement Surgery in Delhi with CSI, fill out the inquiry form below or call us at +91 4122 3333 to book an appointment with our Orthopaedic surgeon.