Procedure of a knee prosthesis operation

Consultation and diagnosis

The first step is always a consultation appointment, in which the knee is assessed and examined. In most cases, this includes an X-ray and possibly also a magnetic resonance imaging. An anamnesis (medical history) is taken. If a diagnosis of wear and tear of the knee (osteoarthritis) can then be made, the various treatment options are discussed.

In principle, conservative (non-surgical) measures are taken at the beginning. These include activity adjustment, physiotherapy with strengthening of the muscles surrounding the knee joint. Furthermore, infiltration therapies can be tried. ACP therapy (autologous conditioned plasma, autologous blood therapy) is particularly worthy of mention here.

However, if the complaints can no longer be influenced by non-surgical measures, the surgical options come to the fore. In the case of the knee, these are primarily minimally invasive surgery (knee arthroscopy) or, in the case of advanced degenerative diseases, the artificial knee joint.

Preparation with physiotherapy

If desired, instruction can be given by physiotherapy before the operation. Here you will be shown before the operation how to walk with the canes and which behaviour patterns are important.

Procedure of the operation

First of all, an examination is carried out, e.g. by the family doctor (blood sample, heart curve/ ECG). This serves the optimal preparation for the anaesthesia. After this, admission takes place either one day before or on the day of the operation. The operation itself then takes about one hour.

A short post-treatment in the recovery room is important for monitoring, and then the patient is transferred to the ward.

The first days are mainly used for the optimal adjustment of the pain therapy and instruction by the physiotherapist. Walking with sticks is recommended for the first six weeks to avoid falls. Also during the first six weeks a so-called thrombosis prophylaxis (blood thinning) is carried out to keep the risk of thrombosis as low as possible.

In most cases, the patient is fit for everyday life again after about a week and can leave the hospital. In rare cases, hospitalisation is followed by inpatient rehabilitation.

Aftercare

During the first six weeks, cane support is provided for safety; unloading of the knee joint is only necessary in very rare cases. The knee joint mobility is built up on the one hand by physiotherapy and on the other hand by a motion splint delivered to the patient's home.

Most patients are back to everyday life after two to three months and can carry out their usual activities. However, the rehabilitation time is individual and depends on various factors.

Regular follow-up visits with your surgeon are important, especially in the first few months after surgery, to monitor the progress of healing.